International Journal of Pest Management (2015) 61, 73-79

From Pestinfo-Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search

Johnnie van den Berg and Huib Van Hamburg (2015)
Trap cropping with Napier grass, Pennisetum purpureum (Schumach), decreases damage by maize stem borers
International Journal of Pest Management 61 (1), 73-79
Abstract: Napier grass, Pennisetum purpureum (Schumach), in combination with intercrops has been used successfully in habitat management for maize stem borers in Africa. The use of Napier grass only as a trap or barrier plant for Chilo partellus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was evaluated in this study. Napier grass borders were planted only on two sides of small-scale farmers' maize fields, since planting of perennial trap crops on all sides of fields hampered mechanical cultivation. C. partellus was the dominant borer species, followed by B. fusca and Sesamia calamistis (Hampson) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Reductions between 0% and 27.4% in the incidence of borer-infested plants were observed on the 16 farms evaluated in this study. The results show that Napier grass as trap/barrier crop suppresses stem borer numbers in maize fields.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Johnnie van den Berg

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation


Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial Pest/Disease/Weed Crop/Product Country Quarant.


Chilo partellus Maize/corn (Zea mays) South Africa
Sesamia calamistis Maize/corn (Zea mays) South Africa
Busseola fusca Maize/corn (Zea mays) South Africa