Intercropping Strategies to Mitigate Fall Armyworm Threats in Maize Farming
In 2017, a severe fall armyworm invasion in Malawi led to the declaration of 20 of the country's 28 districts as disaster areas.
Lilongwe, Malawi - As the upcoming farming season approaches, pest scientist Chimwemwe Mvula, from the Department of Crop and Soil Science at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar), has highlighted the effectiveness of intercropping maize with drought-resistant green leaf desmodium and planting brachiaria grass around the farm's edge to combat fall armyworm infestations, writes Davie Mchinga.
In an interview, Mvula explained that by incorporating desmodium and brachiaria grass alongside maize, farmers can employ a "push-pull" crop system to deter fall armyworm.
Desmodium emits compounds that repel fall armyworms from maize, while brachiaria grass, planted around the field's perimeter, releases chemicals that attract the pests away from the maize.
The results of this intercropping approach have demonstrated its effectiveness. Maize within the "push-pull" system remained free of fall armyworm infestation, while neighboring monocrop plots experienced severe pest damage.
Mvula further noted that the "push-pull" system not only protects maize from fall armyworms but also promotes soil fertility and inhibits invasive weeds from taking root around cereal crops.
Data from the study revealed an impressive 82.7 percent reduction in the number of fall armyworm larvae per plant and an 86.7 percent decrease in plant damage per plot in areas where the "push-pull" system was employed.
This innovative strategy to manage fall armyworm infestations has also been implemented in Kenya, where it proved to be successful in safeguarding maize crops from this invasive pest.
Since 2016, fall armyworms, invasive pests originating from the Americas, have posed a significant threat to crops in Africa.
In 2017, a severe fall armyworm invasion in Malawi led to the declaration of 20 of the country's 28 districts as disaster areas.
These pests primarily target cereal crops such as maize, a staple food in Malawi.
The use of desmodium and brachiaria grass in a "push-pull" system presents a promising solution to mitigate the damage caused by fall armyworms and improve the resilience of maize farming in Malawi.