Theme 1-2: Rangeland/Grassland Ecology--Poster Sessions
Description
Grasslands are known to host crop pests and may act as the reservoir of pests affecting maize production. This research aimed at determining the effect of grassland composition on abundance of stemborers on grasses sorrouding maize farms in western Kenya. The experimental set up followed a complete random block design (CRBD); with four elevations at Lambwe, Homabay, Luanda and Mt. Elgon assigned as blocks based on different altitudes. Sampling was done in two seasons, during the short rain season of 2019 and the long rain season of 2020. Grasslands surrounding four pairs of push-pull and non-push-pull maize farms were assessed. Data on grass species diversity and the corresponding number of stemborers were collected from five quadrates per transect of 500m, for 4 transects per farm. The four transects originated from the midpoint of push-pull and non-push pull maize farm. A mixed design analysis of variance was used to test for variance within the elevation’s variability. The most common types of grasses surrounding most of the maize farms were mainly Cynadon dactylon and Immensis spp. These results point at the role of grasslands surrounding maize farms as reservoirs for the stem borers which need to be managed to reduce stem borer and fall armyworm infestations in the surrounding maize farms.
Citation
Maryselah, Nelima; Daniel, Mutyambai M.; Shem, Kuyah; Godfrey, Netondo; and Jonsons, Mattias, "The Relationship between Grassland Composition on Stemborer Abundance on Grasses Surrounding Maize Farms" (2022). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 13.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/24/1-2/13
Included in
The Relationship between Grassland Composition on Stemborer Abundance on Grasses Surrounding Maize Farms
Grasslands are known to host crop pests and may act as the reservoir of pests affecting maize production. This research aimed at determining the effect of grassland composition on abundance of stemborers on grasses sorrouding maize farms in western Kenya. The experimental set up followed a complete random block design (CRBD); with four elevations at Lambwe, Homabay, Luanda and Mt. Elgon assigned as blocks based on different altitudes. Sampling was done in two seasons, during the short rain season of 2019 and the long rain season of 2020. Grasslands surrounding four pairs of push-pull and non-push-pull maize farms were assessed. Data on grass species diversity and the corresponding number of stemborers were collected from five quadrates per transect of 500m, for 4 transects per farm. The four transects originated from the midpoint of push-pull and non-push pull maize farm. A mixed design analysis of variance was used to test for variance within the elevation’s variability. The most common types of grasses surrounding most of the maize farms were mainly Cynadon dactylon and Immensis spp. These results point at the role of grasslands surrounding maize farms as reservoirs for the stem borers which need to be managed to reduce stem borer and fall armyworm infestations in the surrounding maize farms.
