Management of Striga hermonthica through Moisture Conservation Practices and Cowpea Intercropping in Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract Striga has become the major biological constraints for farmers growing maize, sorghum, millet and rice in SSA, causing devastating losses in yield resulting in shortage of food supply in developing countries including Ethiopia. Field experiments were carried out in the Babile district, eastern Ethiopia during the 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons to determine the effect of moisture conservation practices and cowpea intercropping as trap crop on Striga infestation and sorghum productivity. The trial included eight treatments spread over four replications in a randomized complete block design. The percentage of Striga infestation reduction and yield increase differed considerably between treatment combinations (P 0.001). The use of tied-ridge and cowpea between rows produced the highest sorghum yield (4.1 t/ha) and the highest Striga reduction (90.3%), followed by closed end tide-ridge and cowpea between two sorghum plants in furrows (3.6 t/ha and 84.75%, respectively); and open-ridge and cowpea between rows of sorghum (3.2 t/ha and 77.25%, respectively). The lowest sorghum yield was obtained from the sole susceptible sorghum variety (Teshale) in the flat control plot (1.4 t/ha) with the highest striga infestation percentage (80%). According to the findings of this study, moisture conservation practices and cowpea planting are critical for striga management and maximizing sorghum yield in low and erratic rainfall receiving areas such as the Babile district of Eastern Ethiopia. These practices can be adopted by similar regions where striga is abundantly existing in sorghum fields.