Effect of maize variety and nitrogen fertilizer on striga parasitism and maize yield in western Kenya

Abstract

Parasitism by Striga weed is the major cause of maize yield losses in the Lake Victoria Basin. Severity of attack is greater in soils with poor fertility. This study evaluated the effects of two different maize varieties and inorganic nitrogen sources on striga parasitism and maize yield in Kisumu West, Busia and Teso South districts of western Kenya. A randomized complete block design with a split-split plot arrangement replicated six times was used. The districts formed blocks. The parameters measured in the field included germination count, striga population and maize yield. A combination of a Striga tolerant variety- WS 303- nitrogen at the rate of 60kgN/ha, in high fertility plots was superior to other treatments. The lowest striga count at 6, 8 and 10 week after planting (WAP) and the highest maize grain yield were achieved in the WS 303 maize variety in Kisumu West, Busia and Teso South districts. Teso South district realized the least striga emergence in the plots with WS 303 maize variety and thus resulted to high yield. To facilitate proper choice of striga control options and their uptake by most farmers, this calls for the use of integrated Striga control technologies that give high yield, increase soil fertility and reduce striga seed bank in farmers’ led field experiments.