Influence of Sorghum-legume Intercropping on Striga Control and Sorghum Performance

Abstract

Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth is an important parasitic weed
on cereals in the semi-arid tropics. Intercropping, particularly of cereals
with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), is a common practice in many parts of
the semi-arid zone. The main objectives of this study were to determine
the influence of sorghum-legume intercropping on striga control in central
Sudan, and to assess the effect of such association on crop performance.
Field experiments were conducted in striga-infested plots at the
Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC) farm at Wad Madani, Sudan,
during the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 seasons. Sorghum cultivars
Arfagadamk and Wad Ahmed were intercropped with four legumes.
Treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with 3
replicates. Striga emergence was significantly reduced by 37.7% - 85.6%
in sorghum-legume intercropping compared to sole sorghum, irrespective
of variety and season. The highest reduction in striga emergence was
obtained with the sorghum cv. Arfagadamk-legume intercropping, which
reduced striga emergence by 72.5% - 85.6% compared to sole non-
fertilized sorghum. Striga dry weight was high in sole sorghum in
comparison with sorghum intercropped with legumes. Sorghum cv.
Arfagadamk intercropped with lablab bean, brown-seed cowpea, and
white-seed cowpea significantly reduced striga dry weight by 95%, 90%,
and 73%, respectively. The total biological yield of both sorghum
cultivars per unit area was generally higher in the intercropping