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Assessment of On-Farm Losses in Cereals in Africa Due to Soil Insects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

T. G. Wood  and
R. H. Cowie
T. G. Wood
Affiliation:
Overseas Development Natural Resources Institute, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
R. H. Cowie
Affiliation:
Overseas Development Natural Resources Institute, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
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Abstract

Soil pests are defined as those in which the damaging stage of the life cycle lives in the soil. In Africa the most important soil insect pests are termites, followed by the larvae of various beetles (particularly scarabs), and by millipedes which are included here as they damage plants in a similar way to some insects.

The most important cereals in Africa are maize, sorghum and millet, with wheat and rice increasing in importance. Attack by soil pests usually begins on the root system and yield losses result from plant mortality, lowered translocation of water and nutrients, increased susceptibility to pathogens, or lodging with subsequent damage to grain on the ground from various vertebrates, invertebrates and saprophytes.

Data have often been presented as ‘percentage of plants damaged’ or ‘infested’ and bear little relationship to yield loss, as this depends on the severity and timing of attack. A succession of soil pests can attack the plants from seedling to maturity. Early season attacks can result in compensatory growth by remaining plants leading to overestimation of yield loss by simple estimates of plants damaged. Direct estimation of yield loss is time-consuming and few such studies have been made. However, methods are presented here for termites and maize which could be adapted for other pests and crops. Indirect estimates using pesticides are more common and, in general, indicate that an integrated pest management approach to soil pests is required.

Résumé

Les insectes ravageurs du sol sont definis comme ceux dont le stage nuisible du cycle du developpement vit dans le sol. En Afrique les ravageurs du sol les plus importants sont les termites, suivies des larves de differents coleoptères (particulièrement les Scarabides) et les millepattes inclus ici parce qu'ils detruisent les plantes de la même manière que certains insectes. Les céréales les plus importants d'Afrique sont le mais, le sorgho, le mil, avec le riz et le blé croissant en importance. L'attaque par les ravageurs du sol commence habituellement au niveau du système racinaire de la plante; il en resulte une perte du rendement due à la mort des plantes, la baisse de circulation de l'eau et des nutriments, l'augmentation de la susceptibilité face aux pathogènes ou aux dommages causés aux graines par des differents vertèbres, invertèbres et des saprophytes. Les données ont souvent été presentees en “pourcentage par plante abimée” ou “infestée” et ont une petite affinité avec la perte en rendement qui depend de la sévérité et du moment ou commence l'infestation. Les attaques en debut de saison peuvent provoquer une croissance compensatrice chez le restent des plantes; ceci conduisant à une estimation exagerée des pertes car étant basée uniquement sur les plantes endommagées. L'estimation directe de la perte en rendement fait perdre beaucoup de temps et peu de recherches ont été faites dans ce sens. Néanmoins des methodes adaptées à d'autres ravageurs et cultures sont applicables pour les termites et le mais. Des estimations indirectes utilisant les pesticides sont plus communes et en général, montrent que le concept de la protection integrée des ravageurs peut s'adapter aux insectes nuisibles du sol.

Keywords

Cerealsyield lossestermitessoil insectsCéréalesperte en rendementtermitesinsectes du sol
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 9 , Special Issue 6: On-Farm and Post-Harvest Losses of Cereal Crops in Africa due to Pests and Diseases , December 1988 , pp. 709 - 716
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1988

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