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Farmers' opinions and influence of cultural practices on soil pest damage to groundnut in West Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

V. C. Umeh ,
F. Waliyar ,
S. Traoré ,
I. M. Chaibou ,
B. Omar  and
J. Detognon
V. C. Umeh
Affiliation:
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), B.P. 320, Bamako, Mali
F. Waliyar
Affiliation:
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), B.P. 320, Bamako, Mali
S. Traoré
Affiliation:
Institut d'Etudes et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA), 01 B.P. 910, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina-Faso
I. M. Chaibou
Affiliation:
Institut National de Recherches Agricoles du Niger (INRAN, B.P. 240, Maradi, Niger
B. Omar
Affiliation:
Kano State Agricultural Development Authority (KNARDA), P.M.B. 3130, Kano, Nigeria
J. Detognon
Affiliation:
Institut National de Recherches Agricoles du Benin (INRAB) BP 884 Cotonou, Benin
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Abstract

Farmers in the groundnut belts of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria and Benin in West Africa were interviewed for their ability to identify economically importanct soil pests infesting their groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) crops, and to obtain information on farm histories and cultural practices which may influence soil pest infestation and spread in a field. Termites, whitegrubs and millipedes were recognised by the farmers as being the most important soil pests, with termites being the most damaging group. A negative correlation (P < 0.05) was found between the number of years a farm was cultivated and the frequency of termite occurrence in it. Information on cultural practices obtained from interviews and field visits indicated that practices such as late harvesting and the leaving behind of residues of previous sorghum, millet and maize crops increased termite infestation. The cutting down and burning of the vegetation in a farm before planting significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the percentage of plants attacked by termites. The cultivation of short-duration (< 100 days) varieties to escape drought at the end of the cropping season did not significantly reduce termite damage, due to late harvest. Other farmers' practices which are likely to have contributed to soil pest damage are also discussed.

Résumé

Les fermiers de la zone de culture de l'arachide, du Mali, du Burkina-Faso, du Niger, du Nigeria et du Bénin ont été interrogés afin d'estimer leur capacité de reconnaissance des ravageurs du sol d'importance économique, infestant leurs cultures d'arachide (Arachis hypogaea L.). Cette enquête a également permis d'obtenir des informations sur l'histoire et les pratiques culturales pouvant influencer l'infestation et la propagation des ravageurs du sol dans un champ. Les ravageurs du sol les plus importants reconnus par les fermiers sont les termites, les vers blancs et les mille-pattes; les termites étant responsables des dégâts les plus importants. Une corrélation significativement négative (P < 0.05) a été trouvée entre le nombre d'années de culture du champ et la fréquence des termites dans ce dernier. Les informations obtenues sur les pratiques culturales à partir des questionnaires et des visites au champ indiquent qu'une récolte tardive et la présence dans le champ de résidus des cultures antérieures de sorgho, de mil et de maïs augmentent l'infestation par les termites. Le défrichage et le brûlage de la végétation avant les semis réduisent significativement (P < 0.05) le pourcentage de plantes attaquée J par les termites. La culture de variétés à cycles courts (< 100 jours), permettant d'éviter la sécheresse en fin de cycle cultural, n'a pas réduit significativement les dégâts provoqués par les termites car la récolte a été trop tardive. Les autres pratiques culturales qui contribuent vraisemblablement aux dégâts des ravageurs du sol sont également discutées.

Keywords

cultural practicesgroundnutArachis hypogaeaintercroppingmillipedetermiteswhitegrubpratiques culturalesarachideArachis hypogaeaculture associéelille-pattestermitever blanc
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , September 2001 , pp. 257 - 265
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2001

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