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Effect of Tillage Methods on Termite Damage to Maize in South Africa
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 September 2011
Abstract
Fungus growing termites, Microtermes sp. and Odontotermes sp. are important pests of maize in southern Africa. They damage roots and stems of maize plants and cause lodging of plants after senescence. Termite nests are difficult to locate and destroy and no effective method of control has yet been developed. Different tillage methods that could destroy nests were evaluated in the field over two seasons. Tillage methods included deep chisel plough, shallow chisel plough, deep mouldboard plough, rip and rip-on-row. Significant differences were observed in the effect of different tillage methods on lodging of maize plants. The deep mouldboard plough treatment that disturbed and overturned soil to a depth of 0.30 m resulted in significant reduction in incidence of lodged plants. The deep chisel treatment disturbed the upper 0.25 m soil layer and also resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of lodging. The shallow chisel and rip-on-row treatments had the highest incidence of lodging. Deep tillage methods are, however, not considered to be a long-term solution for termite damage in maize.
Résumé
Les termites champignonnistes, Microtermes sp. et Odontotermes sp. sont d'importants ravageurs du maïs en Afrique du Sud. Ils endommagent les racines et les tiges de maïs et sont responsables de la verse des plantes après la sénescence. Les nids de termites sont difficiles à localiser et détruire et il n'existe pas encore de méthode de lutte efficace. Différentes méthodes de préparation du sol, susceptibles de détruire les nids, ont été évaluées pendant deux saisons: le disquage profond, le disquage de surface, le labour profond et le sous-solage. Des différences significatives ont été observées selon le type de labour sur la verse des plants de maïs. Le labour profond qui mélange et retourne le sol jusqu' à une profondeur de 30 cm réduit significativement l'incidence de la verse des plantes. Le disquage profond qui mélange la couche supérieure du sol sur 25 cm réduit également de façon significative l'incidence de la verse. Le disquage de surface et le sous-solage sont les deux méthodes les plus efficaces pour réduire la verse. Les labours profonds ne peuvent être considérés comme des solutions à long terme pour limiter les dégâts des termites sur maïs.
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