INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF THE PARASITIC PLANT (STRIGA HERMONTHICA) IN MAIZE USING PARKIA BIGLOBOSA BASED PRODUCTS AND POST-EMERGENCY HERBICIDE IN THE NIGERIAN SAVANNA

Two trials ه رر conducted in 2008 and 2009 wet seasons to assess the effect of maize seeds soaked (as a pre-plant treatment) in Parkia based products and post- emergence herbicides in the suppressive effect of striga hermonthica in maize. The experiments were !aid out in 2 sp lit- plot design with three replications in the two locations. The main plot treatments consist of three striga control methods: post-emergence (POE) Tridopyr, 2, 4-0 (each at the rate of 0.36 kg a.i/ha) and a hoe-weeded check at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing ( ! ى the sub-piot treatments were made of seeds soaked for 20 minutes prior to planting in Parkia fruit powder, Parkia seed powder suspensions and distilled water as control, respectively. In the two years, 2009 delayed the emergence of striga by 46 days after sowing (DAS) as compared to 2008 (48 DAS). Similarly, Makurdi delayed the striga ?mergence by 45 DAS than that of 42 DAS. Generally, maize soaked in Parkia based products (fruit and seed powder) delayed the emergence by 50 and 45 DAS, respectively than the distilled water (36 DAS). Generally, seeds soaked in Parkia products resulted in significantly reduced Striga shoots as compared to the highest recorded in distilled water throughout the period of observation. Similarly, in the striga control methods, the POE application of either Tridopyr or 2, 4- D each at the rate of 0.36 kg a.i/ha resulted in significantly reduced Striga shoots as compared to the hoe- weeded check. Maize grain yield was significantly higher with all treatments of Parkia based products as compared to distilled water check. In the striga control methods, the highest and lowest maize grain yields were obtained by the POE applied Tridopyr at the rate of 0,36 kg a.i/ha and the hoe-weeded check, respectively. The Parkia fruit powder and fruit peel are by- products, after processing of Parkia beans, thus can easily be sourced. This implies that farmers could continue this practice in combination with POE application of herbicides (Tridopyr or 2, 44- D) for the control ofS. hermonthica in maize.