Integrated control of Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. in Burkina Faso through host plant resistance, biocontrol and fertilizers

Abstract

A two-year field study investigated integrated management of Striga hermonthica on sorghum through host crop resistance, biocontrol (Fusarium oxysporum isolate 34-FO), and fertilizer application. The experiment was conducted in a field with natural Striga infestation at Kouaré Research Station in Fada N’Gourma, Burkina Faso. Treatments combining sorghum resistance with Fusarium inoculum and N-fertilizer or manure significantly reduced emerged Striga plant number, plant vigour and dry biomass of Striga and the area under the Striga number progress curve (ASNPC) in 2002, as compared to the control. Integrated Striga Management (ISM) plots fertilized with urea, urea plus growth medium or urea plus manure associated with Fusarium inoculum resulted in improved sorghum grain yield of at least 15% in 2001 and of at least 97% in 2002. Economic analysis showed that the combination of sorghum resistance with fungal inoculum or urea at 200 kg ha^-1 allowed for a significant financial profit in sorghum production. The results suggest that to reduce Striga infestation below economic threshold, ISM treatments should be consistently applied for several years without expecting very high returns.

Keywords: Striga hermonthica, integrated control, Fusarium inoculum, Sorghum resistance, fertilization, Burkina Faso