Evaluating climate adapted push-pull technology for Striga hermonthica - maize stem borer management and forage production among smallholder farmers in Eastern Uganda

Abstract

This study aimed at assessing farmer’s knowledge, perceptions and practices in management of parasitic witchweed, Striga hermonthica and maize stem borers using climate adapted push - pull technology as well as assessing how push- pull approach can enhance maize yield as food and the quality and quantity of forage as feed for livestock production. A survey using semi-structured questionnaires was administered to a representative sample of 200 respondents chosen through random sampling to find the knowledge, perceptions and practices of farmers and this was followed by on-farm experiments to determine the effectiveness of push-pull technology on maize yield, S. hermonthica weed and stem borer infestation as well as the quality and quantity of forage yields. The experiments consisted of three treatments each replicated four times. These treatments were push- pull treatment, maize-desmodium intercrop treatment and maize mono-crop treatment arranged in a randomized complete block design. The survey findings show that S. hermonthica weed and stem borer pests are the major constraints to maize production in the study area. Majority of the farmers (94%) rated push-pull intervention superior in controlling maize stem borers and Striga weed. Further survey results show that male farmers were more (p<0.05) aware about pests and weed management than female farmers. Experimental results show that push-pull intervention had the least incidences of Striga weed counts (31) compared to 60 and 126 counts in maize-desmodium and maize-monocrop intervention, respectively. Similarly push-pull intervention had the least percentage of plants damaged by stem borers (0.8%) compared to 11.9% and 23.3% in maize-desmodium and maize-monocrop intervention, respectively. Maize plants in Push- pull plots were twice taller with the greatest (p<0.05) grain yield of 1.05 t/ha compared to maize-desmodium intercrop and maize mono-crop interventions whose yields were 0.96 t/ha and 0.26 t/ha, respectively. Similarly, push-pull yielded the greatest (p<0.05) dry matter biomass above the ground (15.8 t/ha) compared to 2.5 t/ha and 0.5 t/ha of maize-desmodium and maize monocrop intervention, respectively. Napier grass and maize had greater (p<0.05) neutral detergent and acid detergent fibre but with lower (p<0.05) crude proteins. Desmodium legume had the greatest (p<0.05) crude proteins but with the lowest (p<0.05) neutral detergent and acid detergent fibre. These results are interpreted to mean that push-pull technology is effective in controlling maize stem borer and Striga hermonthica weed resulting into higher quantity and quality yields for human food and feed for livestock.