Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-7jgsp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-31T06:46:07.824Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Multi-trophic level interactions in a cassava–maize mixed cropping system in the humid tropics of West Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

F. Schulthess ,
A. Chabi-Olaye  and
S. Gounou
F. Schulthess*
Affiliation:
Biological Control Center for Africa, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Cotonou, 08 BP 0932 Tripostale, Republic of Benin
A. Chabi-Olaye
Affiliation:
Institute of Plant Diseases and Plant Protection, Herrenhaeuser Str. 2, 30419, Hanover, Germany
S. Gounou
Affiliation:
Biological Control Center for Africa, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Cotonou, 08 BP 0932 Tripostale, Republic of Benin
*
*Present address: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, PO Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya Fax: +254 (20) 860110 E-mail: fschulthess@icipe.org
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Multi-trophic level interactions in a mixed crop, involving cassava and maize, were studied in derived-savanna in Benin, West Africa. Two trials were planted, one during the short rainy season two months before onset of the dry season and one during the long rainy season in spring. Key pests under study on maize were the noctuid Sesamia calamistis Hampson and the pyralids Eldana saccharina Walker and Mussidia nigrivenella Ragonot, and on cassava, the exotic mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero and its encyrtid parasitoid Apoanagyrus lopezi De Santis. Both crops received insecticide treatments to assess the crop loss by a pest species. On maize, intercropping with cassava reduced egg and immature numbers of S. calamistis by 67 and 83%, respectively, as a result of reduced host finding by the ovipositing adult moth and of higher egg parasitism by Telenomus spp. Both trials showed similar effects on maize yields: on insecticide-treated maize, intercropping with cassava reduced maize yields by 9–16%, while on untreated maize the net effect of reduced pest density and increased plant competition resulted in zero yield differences; yield losses were lower in inter- compared to monocropped maize. For cassava, cropping system had no effect on parasitism by A. lopezi. Yield differences between mono- and intercropped cassava depended on time of harvest: they were large at the beginning and zero at final harvest. Land equivalent ratios were mostly > 1.5 indicating that a maize/cassava mixed crop, protected or unprotected, considerably increased the productivity per unit area of land.

Information

Type
Review Article
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 94 , Issue 3 , June 2004 , pp. 261 - 272
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Adesiyun, A.A. (1983) Some effects of intercropping of sorghum, millet and maize on infestation by lepidopterous stalk-borers, particularly Busseola fusca. Insect Science and its Application 4, 387–391.Google Scholar
Altieri, M.A. & Letourneau, D.K. (1982) Vegetation management and biological control in agroecosystems. Crop Protection 1, 405–430.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ampong-Nyarko, K., Seshu, Reddy K.V. & Saxena, K.N. (1995) Mechanisms of low insect pest incidence in intercropping: Chilo partellus oviposition on non-host plant cowpea. pp. 103–108 in Proceedings of the 10th Meeting and Scientific Conference of the African Association of insect Scientists,5–10 September 1993,Mombasa, Kenya.Google Scholar
Andow, D.A. (1991) Vegetational diversity and arthropod population response. Annual Review of Entomology 36, 561–586.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bin, F. & Vinson, S.B. (1991) Efficacy assessment in egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera): proposal for a unified terminology. Trichogramma and other egg parasitoids. San Antonio (Texas, USA), September 23–27. Ed. INRA, Paris 1991 (Les Colloques no 56).Google Scholar
Bosque-Pérez, N.A., Kling, J.G. & Odubiyi, S.I. (1997) Recent advances in the development of sources of resistance to pink stalk borer and African sugarcane borer. pp. 234–240in Mihm, J. (Ed.) Insect resistant maize: recent advances and utilization, Proceedings of an International SymposiumCIMMYT.Google Scholar
Chabi, Olaye A. (1992) Contribution à l'étude de la biologie et de l'écologie de Telenomus busseolae (Gahan) (Hyménoptère: Scélionidae) un parasitoide d'oeuf de Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lépidoptère: Noctuidae). 70 pp. Thèse d'Ingénieur Agronome Université Nationale du Bénin.Google Scholar
Chabi-Olaye, A., Schulthess, F., Poehling, H.-M. & Borgemeister, C. (2001) Host location and host discrimination behaviour of Telenomus isis (Polaszek) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), an egg parasitoid of the African cereal stem borer Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology 27, 663–678.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chabi-Olaye, A., Nolte, C., Schulthess, F. & Borgemeister, C. (2002) Effect of maize, cassava, cowpea and soybean intercropping on the population dynamics of maize stem-borers and their natural enemies in the humid forest zones of Cameroon. Presented at Entomological Society of American Annual Meeting and exhibition; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA 17–20 November 2002.Google Scholar
CIMMYT (2001) 1999/2000. World maize facts and trends: meeting world maize needs: technological opportunities and priorities for the public sector. Centro Internaciaonal the Mais y Trigo.Google Scholar
Denké, D.Schulthess, F., Bonato, O. & Smith, H. (2000) Effet de la fumure en potassium sur le développement, la survie et la fécondité de Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) et de Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Insect Science and its Application 20, 151–156.Google Scholar
Dissemond, A. & Hindorf, H. (1990) Influence of sorghum/maize/cowpea intercropping on the insect situation at Mbita/Kenya. Journal of Applied Entomology 109, 144–150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Durbey, S.L. & Sarup, P. (1982) Preferential plant sites for oviposition of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) moths in different maize germplasms. Bulletin of Entomological Research 6, 111–116.Google Scholar
FAO (2001) FAOSTAT Data Query Crops, www.apps.fao.org.Google Scholar
Fiaboe, M.K., Chabi-Olaye, A., Gounou, S., Smith, H., Borgemeister, C. & Schulthess, F. (2003) Sesamia calamistis calling behavior and its role in host finding of egg parasitoids Telenomus busseola e, Telenomus isis, and Lathromeris ovicida. Journal of Chemical Ecology 29, 903–911.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herren, H.R. & Neuenschwander, P. (1991) Biological control of cassava pests in Africa. Annual Review of Entomology 36, 257–283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kang, B.T. & Wilson, G.F. (1981) Effect of maize plant population and nitrogen application on maize–cassava intercrop. pp. 129–133.Google Scholar
Kaufmann, T. (1983) Behavioural biology, feeding habits and ecology of three species of maize stem borers: Eldana saccharina (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), Sesamia calamistis and Busseola fusca (Noctuidae) in Ibadan, Nigeria, West Africa. Journal of the Georgia Entomological Society 18, 259–272.Google Scholar
Khan, Z.R., Ampong-Nyarko, K., Chiliswa, P., Hassanali, A., Kimani, S., Lwande, W., Overholt, W.A., Pickett, J.A., Smart, L.E., Wadhams, L.J. & Woodcock, M. (1997a) Intercropping increases parasitism of pests. Nature 388, 631–632.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Khan, Z.R., Chiliswa, P., Ampong-Nyarko, K., Smart, L.A., Polaszek, A., Wandera, J. & Mulaa, M.A. (1997b) Utilization of wild gramineous plants for management of cereal stemborers in Africa. Insect Science and its Application 17, 143–150.Google Scholar
Kruess, A. & Tscharntke, T. (2000) Species richness and parasitism in a fragmented landscape: experiments and field studies with insects on Vicia sepium. Oecologia 122, 129–137.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mutsaers, H.J.W., Ezumah, H.C. & Osiru, D.S.O. (1993) Cassava-based intercropping: a review. Field Crops Research 34, 431–457.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ndemah, R., Schulthess, F., Poehling, H.-M. & Borgemeister, C. (2001a) Spatial dynamics of lepidopterous pests on Zea mays (Linnaeus) and Pennisetum purpureum (Moench) in the forest zone of Cameroon and their implications for sampling schemes. Journal of Applied Entomology 125, 1–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ndemah, R., Schulthess, F., Poehling, H.-M. & Borgemeister, C. (2001b) Natural enemies of lepidopterous borers on maize and elephant grass in the forest zone of Cameroon with special reference to Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 91, 205–212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ndemah, R., Gounou, S. & Schulthess, F. (2002) The role of wild grasses in the management of lepidopterous cereal stemborers on maize in the forest zone of Cameroon and the derived savanna of southern Benin. Bulletin of Entomological Research 92, 507–519.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ndemah, R., Schulthess, F., Korie, S., Borgemeister, C., Poehling, M. & Cardwell, K.F. (2003) Factors affecting infestations of the stalk borer Busseola fusca (Fuller) on maize in the forest Zone of Cameroon with special reference to scelionid egg parasitoids. Environmental Entomology 32, 61–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Neuenschwander, P., Hammond, W.H.O., Gutierrez, A.P., Cudjoe, A.R., Adjakloe, R., Baumgärtner, J.U. & Regev, U. (1989) Impact assessment of the biological control of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti Mat.-Ferrero (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) by the introduced parasitoid Epidinocarsis lopezi (De Santis) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 79, 579–594.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oka, M., Limsila, J., Sarakarn, S. & Sinthuprama, S. (1990) Plant characteristics related to germination ability of cassava cuttings. pp. 229–235 in Proceedings of the 8th Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops,Bangkok, Thailand,October 30-November 5, 1988.Google Scholar
Okeke, J.E. (1996) Effects of spatial arrangement and relative time of planting on intercropped maize and cassava. Tropical Science 36, 6–10.Google Scholar
Olasantan, F.O., Ezumah, H.C. & Luca, E.O. (1995) Effects of intercropping with maize on the micro-environment, growth and yield of cassava. Agriculture, Ecosystems and the Environment 57, 149–158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oloo, G.W. & Ogeda, O. (1990) The role of local natural enemies in population dynamics of Chilo partellus (Swinh) under subsistence farming systems in Kenya. Insect Science and its Application 10, 243–251.Google Scholar
Omolo, E.O. (1986) Stem borer incidence in sorghum intercropped with maize and cowpea tested in Kenya. pp. 367–378 in Sorghum and millet improvement in eastern Africa: Proceedings of the 4th Regional Workshop, 22–26 July 1985. Soroti, Uganda. Nairobi, Kenya, SAFGRAD/ICRISAT.Google Scholar
Omolo, E.O. & Seshu, Reddy K.V. (1985) Effect of different sorghum-based cropping systems on insect pests in Kenya. pp. 395–401 in Proceedings of the International Sorghum Entomology Workshop, 15–21 July 1984, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA. Patancheru, India, ICRISAT.Google Scholar
Oyedokun, J.B., Akinlosotu, T.A., Omidiji, M.O. & Ezumah, H.C. (1989) Introduction of cassava through maize in a humid environment. pp. 24–35 in Cassava-based cropping system research II. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria.Google Scholar
Päts, P. (1992) Reproductive biology of the cereal stemborer Chilo partellus. 97 pp. Dissertation, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.Google Scholar
Polaszek, A., Ubeku, J.A., Bosque-Pérez, N.A. (1993) Taxonomy of Telenomus busseolae -species-complex (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) egg parasitoids of cereal stem borers (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Pyralidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 83, 221–226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Risch, S.J., Andow, D. & Altieri, M.A. (1983) Agroecosystem diversity and pest control: data, tentative conclusions, and new research directions. Environmental Entomology 12, 625–629.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SAS Institute (1997) SAS/STAT software: changes and enhancements. release 6.12, 1167 pp. Cary, North Carolina, SAS Institute Inc.Google Scholar
Schulthess, F. & Ajala, S.O. (1999) Recent advances in the control of stemborers in West and Central Africa. pp. 35–52 in Proceedings of WECAMAN Conference21–25 April, 1997IITA-CotonouRepublic of Benin.Google Scholar
Schulthess, F. & Saka, G. (1992) Aspects of yield formation of cassava in West Africa. In Cassava as fuel, food, fodder. Proceedings of a workshop held in Bulawayo in May 1991.Google Scholar
Schulthess, F., Baumgärtner, J.U., Delucchi, V. & Gutierrez, J.P. (1991a) The influence of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti Mat.-Ferr. (Hom. Pseudococcidae) on yield formation of cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz. Journal of Applied Entomology 111, 155–165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schulthess, F., Bosque-Pérez, N.A. & Gounou, S. (1991b) Sampling lepidopterous pests on maize in West Africa. Bulletin of Entomological Research 81, 297–301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schulthess, F., Bosque-Pérez, N.A., Chabi-Olaye, A., Gounou, S., Ndemah, R. & Goergen, G. (1997a) Exchanging natural enemies species of lepidopterous cereal stemborers between African regions. Insect Science and its Application 17, 97–108.Google Scholar
Schulthess, F., Neuenschwander, P. & Gounou, S. (1997b) Multitrophic level interactions in the cassava, Manihot esculenta, system in the sub-humid tropics of West Africa with special reference to the cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti, and its parasitic wasp Aponanagyrus (Epidinocarsis) lopezi. Agriculture, Ecosystems and the Environment 66, 211–222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schulthess, F., Chabi-Olaye, A. & Goergen, G. (2001) Seasonal fluctuations of noctuid stemborer egg parasitism in southern Benin with special reference to Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Telenomus spp. (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) on maize. Biocontrol, Science and Technology 11, 765–777.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seshu, Reddy K.V. & Masyanga, A. (1988) Effects of different proportion of sorghum/cowpea intercrop rows on crop borer incidence. pp. 6–7 in ICIPE 15th Annual Report 1987. Nairobi, ICIPE.Google Scholar
Seshu, Reddy K.V., Lubega, M.C. & Sum, K.O.S. (1990) Population patterns of Chilo spp. in sorghum, maize and millets. Insect Science and its Application 11, 549–554.Google Scholar
Sétamou, M. & Schulthess, F. (1995) The influence of egg parasitoids belonging to the Telenomus busseolae (Hym.: Scelionidae) species complex on Sesamia calamistis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) populations in maize fields in southern Benin. Biocontrol Science and Technology 5, 69–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sétamou, M., Schulthess, F., Bosque-Pérez., N.A. & Thomas-Odjo, A. (1993) Effect of nitrogen and silica on the bionomics of Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 83, 405–411.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sétamou, M., Schulthess, F., Bosque-Pérez, N.A. & Thomas-Odjo, A. (1995) The effect of stem and cob borers on maize subjected to different nitrogen treatments with special reference to Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 77, 205–210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sétamou, M., Schulthess, F., Poehling, H.-M. & Borgemeister, C. (2000a) Monitoring and modeling of field infestation and damage by the maize ear borer Mussidia nigrivenella Ragonot (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Benin, West Africa. Journal of Economic Entomology 93, 650–657.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sétamou, M., Schulthess, F., Poehling, H.-M. & Borgemeister, C. (2000b) Host plants and population dynamics of the cob borer Mussidia nigrivenella Ragonot (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Benin. Journal of Environmental Entomology 29, 516–524.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Skovgard, H.Päts, P. (1996) Effects of intercropping on maize stemborers and their natural enemies. Bulletin of Entomological Research 86, 599–607.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thies, C. & Tscharntke, T. (1999) Landscape structure and biological control in agroecosystems. Science 285, 893–895.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van den Berg, J., Nur, A.F. & Polaszek, A. (1998) Cultural control. pp. 333–347in Polaszek, A. (Ed.) Cereal stem-borers in Africa: economic importance, taxonomy, natural enemies and control. Wallingford, Oxon, CAB International.Google Scholar
Vandermeer, J. (1989) The ecology of intercropping. 237 pp. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Dijken, M.J., van Alphen, J.J.M., van & Stratum, P. (1989) Sex allocation in Apoanagyrus lopezi: local mate competition. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 52, 259–265.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yaninek, J.S. & Hanna, R. (1999) Indirect host defense and the biological control of cassava green mite in Africa. Invited symposium presentation at the annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Atlanta, Georgia, 12–16, 1999.Google Scholar
Yaninek, J.S. & Schulthess, F. (1993) Developing environmentally sound plant protection for cassava in Africa. Agriculture, Ecosystems and the Environment 46, 305–324.CrossRefGoogle Scholar