Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization, Datura and Jatropha Aqueous Extracts on Striga hermonthica Incidence on Wheat (Triticum eastivum L.)

Abstract

Pots experiment was conducted during the two consecutive winter seasons 2019/20 and 2020/21 at the demonstration farm, Collage of Agricultural studies (CAS), Shambat, University of Science and Technology, Khartoum Bahri, Khartoum state, Sudan (Latitude15° 40` N and Longitude 32° 23` E,) to evaluate the efficacy of nitrogen fertilization and two botanical water extracts (Datura and Jatropha) and Nitrogen, each one alone on Striga hermonthica incidence and growth and yield of wheat. All treatments significantly reduced number of Striga emergence, Striga shoot fresh and dry weights (g). Striga infestation significantly reduced wheat grain yield by 63.14%. Nitrogen in the form of urea at 80 lb/fed., significantly increased wheat grain yield (kg/fed.,) by 196.15 %. Among all treatments Nitrogen at 80 lb/fed., was the best treatment which achieved highest wheat grain yield (kg/fed,) and gave comparable grain yield (kg/fed,) to that obtained by Striga free control.