Effect of intercropping beans and maize on bean stem maggot (Ophiomyia spp) infestation and damage : a cultural option
1995
Gethi, Macharia
Field studies to investigate the effect of intercropping beans and maize on bean stem maggot (Ophiomyia spp.) infestation and damage as a cultural control option were conducted at RRC-Embu Kenya. Results indicated that, oviposition and establishment of BSM remained significantly (P = 0.05) low in all the plots where beans were planted under maize than when in pure stands. Similarly the number of maggots migration to the base of the bean plant to feed and subsequent pupation remained very low in all the plots where beans were planted together with the maize and not sprayed and in those plots that were sprayed with insecticides. This led to the conclusions that under small scale farming systems where intercroppping is practiced there is no need to use insecticide to control BSM. This means that intercropping is a lot better than monoculture in reducing pest damage.
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