A land management based approach to integrated Striga hermonthica control in sub-Saharan Africa

Striga hermonthica, an obligate root parasite of grasses, is one of the most severe constraints to cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa. In the recent past, prior to increased production pressure on land, S. hermonthica was controlled in African farming systems by prolonged crop rotations with bush fallow. Because of increasing need for food and concomitant changes in land management practices, however, these fallow rotations are no longer extensively used. Shorter crop rotations and fallow periods have also led to declines in soil fertility which present a very serious threat to African food production. A sustainable solution will be an integrated approach that simultaneously addresses both of these major problems. An integrated programme that replaces traditional bush fallow rotation with non-host nitrogen-fixing legume rotations, using cultivars selected for efficacy in germinating S. hermonthica seeds, is outlined, The programme includes use of S. hermonthica-free planting material, biological control, cultural control to enhance biological suppressiveness, host-plant resistance, and host-seed treatments.