Crop Protection

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    EFFECTS OF FORAGE LEGUME INTERCROPPING AND FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON FUNGAL CONTAMINATION OF MAIZE (Zea mays) GRAIN IN DORA BAFANO WOREDA SIDAMA REGION
    (Hawassa University College of Agriculture, 2022) ASMAMAW SISAY ASCHENAKI
    Maize (Zea mays) is one of the most important cereal crops grown throughout the world. It serves as staple food for millions of people and a source of feed for animals. The crop gives 365 Kcal of energy per 100 g of grain. However, maize is reported as the most susceptible crop to fungi contamination. Hence, management of grain contaminating fungi is vital to ensure sustainable and safe food and feed production. In the present study, a field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of forage legume intercropping and fertilizer application on fungi contamination of maize grains. The experiment was done using a randomized complete block Design with 10 treatments replicate trice. The experiment employed factorial combinations of five cropping systems and two fertilizer (with ad without) application. Isolation and identification of fungi from the maize grain and soil was done. A total of 6 fungal genera consisting of 12 species were isolated and identified by their morphological characteristics. Fusarium species were the most frequently isolate, followed by Aspergillus and Pencilium spp. Both forage legume intercropping and fertilizer application significantly reduced the frequency of grain contaminating fungi. The frequency of fungi contamination observed to reduce from 17.66 to 8.66 % in case of Fusarium verticillioides when intercropped with cowpea in double rows. Similarly, when fertilizer is applied, the frequency of Fusarium verticillioides was reduced from 14.6 to 9.0 %. The population density (CFUg -1 ) of Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicilliu, Mucor and Trichoderama species in the soil were significantly reduced when maize was intercropped with forage legume. The finding revealed that intercropping of maize with forage legume and application of fertilizer highly reduce maize grain contaminating fungi.