Effect of Nitrogen And Phosphorus Fertilizers On Striga Hermonica Germination On wheat Crop

Abstract

The root parasitic weeds Striga spp. pose a genuine threat to agriculture and food security across many parts of the world. The weeds, at present, are almost uncontrollable. They attack economically important crops and severely reduce yield and quality. Maize, sorghum, millet, are the traditional hosts, however recently wheat was reported susceptible to the parasite. Green house was conducted at the College of Agricultural Studies (CAS), Sudan University of Science and Technology (SUST) at Shambat, during season 2015-2016 to study the effect of nitrogen fertilizer (via Urea at 1N and 2N) and phosporphs (as mono ammonium phosphate- at 1P and 2P) fertilizer on Striga emergence on wheat crop. The fertilizers doses added at the sowing. Treatments were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replicates. The results showed that Nitrogen as urea and phosphors as mono ammonium phosphate, irrespective of doses reduced Striga emergence. Nitrogen at 1N and 2N applied as Urea reduced S. hermonthica emergence by 31.3% and 81.3%. However, phosphors at 1P and 2P reduced Striga emergence significantly by 93.8%. Nitrogen and phosporphs applied together in the same treatment reduced significantly Striga emergence and Striga dry weight by 81.3-87.7 and 93%. The results revealed that there were no significant differences in Striga length and Striga dry weight between the treatments. The results indicated that there were significant differences in plant height between the treatments. Striga free soil displayed the highest plant height (control). Nitrogen and phosphors fertilizers, irrespective of doses, reduced wheat dry weight significantly by 40-78.7 and 67.1-83.5%, as compared to control. The results indicated that no significant differences in number of tillers and wheat dry weight between the treatments. Nitrogen at 1N recorded the highest number of tillers (7.9 tillers /plant). However, 2N and 1P treatments displayed the lowest tillers (2.8 tillers /plant). Wheat dry weight reduced significant after applied by nitrogen at 1N and 2N, Phosphors at 1P by 65.7- 71.6%.