EFFECT OF MILLET AS TRAP CROP FOR CONTROL OF BIRDS ON WHITE SORGHUM IN EASTERN KENYA

Abstract

The semi-arid regions of Kenya have few crop enterprise options. One of the major constraints of white sorghum production is bird damage on the grain from soft to hard dough stage. A two seasons study was established at Katumani of Machakos County, Kampi Mawe of Makueni County and Ithookwe Kitui of County to delimit bird damage levels when a trap crop such as millet was incorporated in the farm. A complete randomized block design (CRBD) of three replicates of pure sorghum, sorghum alternate rows with sorghum and sorghum-encircled with millet plants was established for evaluation of millet as a trap crop of birds. The results showed that the highest bird infestation was at Katumani plots where Serirus reichonowi cumulatively reached over 2,000 individuals at two sites in a month. It was noteworthy that the Quelea quelea species was missing at Katumani site during the stated production periods. The second highest bird infestations was at Kampi by Q. quelea of a month’s cumulative number of 842. Grain yield loss was highest at Katumani (99-100%), corresponding to the high bird infestation numbers. The second highest yield loss occurred at Kampi (60%), which had also the second highest bird numbers. The highest yield achieved due to effect of millet as a trap crop was at Ithookwe (19.3 t ha-1) with less than 10% grain loss compared to Katumani at 100% loss. The results showed partial protection of sorghum damage by birds when intercropped with millet, although factors of bird level of hunger at the different sites have to be considered.