THE EFFECT OF COTTON (Gossypium spp), COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata (L). Walp) AND SOYABEAN (Glycine max (L). Merill) VARIETIES AS TRAP CROPS FOR THE CONTROL OF STRIGA HERMONTHICA (Striga hermonthica) IN SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor (L). Moench).

Two Field Experiments were conducted during the rainy seasons of  2004 and 2005 at the institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) Farm Samaru  (110 11’ 070 38’E and 686m attitude) to study the effect of Cowpea, cotton and Soyabean as trap crops for the control of Striga hermonthica in Sorghum. Striga is the most important biotic constraint to cereal crop production. Over 67% of 73 million hectares of land devoted to cereal crop production in Africa is currently in areas infested with Striga. Between 20% - 100% yield losses have been attributed to Striga in various crops including Sorghum. Trap cropping as one of the most important control components can decreases yield reduction and reduce the build up of soil seed bank of Striga. The treatments tested consisted of two varieties each of Sorghum (SAMSORG–16 & 41), Cowpea (IT93–k–452–l and SAMPEA-7), Cotton (SAMCOT–9 & 10), Soyabean, (TGx1448–2E and SAMSOY - 2). The treatments were arranged in a Randomized Comptete block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. SAMSORG-16 intercropped with SAMPEA-7 had the higher Sorghum stand count. Despite the higher number of Striga shoots count recorded in SAMSORG16 the variety which is resistant to Striga hermonthica produced significantly heavier 1000-grain weight, yield and yield attributes of Sorghum under severe attack of Striga when compared with SAMSORG-41. The two cotton varieties were tested to be the most efficient trap crops for Striga control in Sorghum. Intercropping of  Sorghum with some leguminous crops improved significantly the yield of Sorghum.