Abstract

James Okwoche, Agum Anifowose and Abraham Ikenga

Field trials were conducted in 2012 and 2013 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Agricultural Technology, Plateau State College of Agriculture Garkawa (Latitude 08°52’N; Longitude 69°24’E) to evaluate the effect of different Parkia husk levels in the control of Striga gesnerioides in the Southern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria. The treatments consisted of different Parkia husk rates thus: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 g/hill, seed coated with Parkia husk and no Parkia husk check. These treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated three times. The results indicated general delayance in the emergence of Striga with increased Parkia husk rates. In addition, application of Parkia husk before planting significantly reduced the number of crop plants infested with Striga, reduced Striga shoot, increased crop vigour, delayed flowering of Striga, reduced number of capsules/Striga plant and increased number of pods per net plot with subsequent increment in grain yield of cowpea. The application of Parkia husk reduced significantly the number of capsules per plant of Striga. The implication of this is that there will be depletion of seed bank build up for future infestation, thereby ensuring control of Striga over time