MST-Plant and Microbial Sciences

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Browsing MST-Plant and Microbial Sciences by Author "Chepkemoi, Caroline"

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    Infestation of Coffee and Other Crops by Field Dodder (Cuscuta Campestris Yunker) in Kericho County, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2023-03) Chepkemoi, Caroline
    Jixtensive eographical distribution and variable host runge make F.'u.wym campestriy (el dodder) one of the most comnion and highly (|clelI(fl!Vc invasive Nowering plant species, Cusenra campestris Is an obligate shoot parusitic weed (hat hampers growth of plants and couses loss of yield of many crops globally. It In,.u been recorded ns one of the worst weed of cropy in Turkey nnd lh_c Democratic Republic of Congo. The mte of spread and destruction in (hese countrics and others is alarming and 1€ this happens in Konya, crop yields are likely to be reduced. In Kenya the dodder weed is common in countics such as Central, Coast, Nyanza, Western and Rl valley, This study sought lo investigate the causes, extent n{u( impact of infestation and potential for management of C. campestris in Chilchila ward, Kericho County, Kenya. The study documented crops affcclcz{, lmpnc( and eflorts to monage the weed in (he arca. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered 10 60 farmers (o gel their views on the impacts of the invasive species and management efforts. Eight plots of 20 x 20 M were established along four, 3.5 km baseline transects in all the four compass direotions starting from the point of introduction of field dodder. The plots were laid al 400 m from cach other. Data that was collected in each plot included (he (ype of crops affected, levels of infestation on coffee and weight of their berries in coffee at different levels of infestation. The results were summarized using deseriptive statistics and presented using tables and charts, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to invcsligg(c variation in intensity of infestalion of Cuscuia campestris on coffee plantations with distance from the point of introduction, The main crops parasitised included coffee which had the highest frequency, followed by bananas and mangoes. This was attributed to the perennial nature of the crops. Besides, the high cconomic value attached 10 the coffee necessitates frequent application of fertilizers which also benefit C. campestris. The number of infested coffee trees reduced significantly with increasing distance from the point of introduction (F= 6.41, df = 24, p < 0.05). Findings from this study indicated that ficld dodder infestation led to small berries (29.7%), reduced berry weight (35.9%), falling of leaves (3.9%) low crop yield (13.3%) and death of coffee trees (17.2%). Farmers’ management methods included hand picking (49), pruning (25), spraying (26), weeding and uprooting (3). Hand picking at an early stage, timely application of correct proportions of glyphosate, pruning lower branches and uprooting the host was reported by 6.7% of farmers as effective methods of control. On the other hand, 43% of the farmers stated that the methods were not effective, but they appreciated the fact that it lowered the infestation level. Further, 50.3% of the respondents reported that the methods were not effective at all. The findings in this study are crucial in the formulation of strategies to control the spread of C. campestris. Farmers are encouraged to get rid of weeds regularly as they were found to be primary hosts for field dodder. Use of monocotyledonous plants such as aloes and bamboo as hedge plants was recommended as these plants apparently defied infestation by the weed.
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    Infestation of Coffee and Other Crops by Field Dodder (Cuscuta Campestris Yunker) in Kericho County, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2023-02) Chepkemoi, Caroline
    Abstract