Infestation of crop fields by Striga species in the savanna zones of northeast Nigeria

Type Journal Article - Agriculture, ecosystems & environment
Title Infestation of crop fields by Striga species in the savanna zones of northeast Nigeria
Author(s)
Volume 116
Issue 3
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2006
Page numbers 251-254
URL https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ibrahim_Dugje/publication/222040669_Infestation_of_crop_fields_​by_Striga_species_in_the_savanna_zones_of_northeast_Nigeria/links/0c9605319ac9b6461d000000.pdf
Abstract
Parasitism of crop plants by Striga species is a major constraint in the savanna zones of West Africa. Farmers ranked Striga as a leading
constraint during a livelihood analysis of 30 communities in northeast Nigeria. A field survey was conducted to ascertain the extent of
infestation by Striga spp. About 935 crop and fallow fields were surveyed across 30 communities in three agro-ecological zones.
Four major Striga species were identified: Striga hermonthica in sorghum or maize; Striga aspera in rice; Striga densiflora in pearl millet
and fallow and Striga gesnerioides in cowpea. About 68% of all fields sampled were infested, about 75% of compound fields and 60% of bush
fields. The level of infestation was 60% in southern Guinea, 68% in Sudan and 74% in northern Guinea savanna. The level of infestation of
cereal fields by S. hermonthica was in the order of Sudan savanna > Northern Guinea > Southern Guinea. Infestation of cowpea with S.
gesnerioides was in the order of Northern Guinea savanna > Sudan savanna > Southern Guinea savanna. Across the three ecozones, about
85% of fields planted to maize and sorghum were infested with S. hermonthica and 81% of cowpea fields with S. gesenerioides. S. aspera
infested 40–59% of rice fields and S. densiflora infested 27–60% of millet fields and fallow.

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