Abstract:
Effects of Canavalia ensiformis and Mucuna pruriens green manures and cattle manure in mitigating against Pratylenchus zeae Filipjev damage on two maize varieties, Pan 5195 and Emap11, were assessed in greenhouse and on-farm experiments. In the greenhouse test, the green manures and the cattle manure were mixed with sterilized soil at the rate of 135g kg-1 of soil. Fourteen days after incorporating the manure, pre-germinated maize seeds were planted and inoculated with 1 P. zeae g-1of soil, seven days after planting. Each treatment was replicated six times in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). In the field test, 90 day-old green manures were broadcast, ploughed in at the rate of 5 t ha-1 and irrigated before sowing the maize seeds, 14 days thereafter. Treatments were replicated three times and arranged in a RCBD. Both tests were terminated 90 days after sowing the maize. In the greenhouse test, cattle manure, C. ensiformis and M. pruriens significantly (P<0.05) increased maize dry biomass by 106, 90 and 81%, respectively, and reduced nematode associated root necrosis by up to 46%. In the on-farm test, amending soils with cattle manure and M. pruriens significantly (P<0.05) improved maize grain yield by up to 88 and 53%, respectively, and suppressed nematode population build-up by up to 68% and disease severity (root necrosis) by up to 70%. |
