Evaluation of Push-pull technology for pest and soil fertility management on maize in north western Ethiopia.

Abstract Aims The aims of the study were (i) to evaluate the effectiveness of the push-pull technology against stemborer and striga infestation, (ii) to investigate the impact of the push-pull technology on improving grain yield, and (ii) to assess effect of the push-pull technology on soil fertility. Methods The study was conducted in 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons in 3 districts in north western Ethiopia. Three farmers from each district were randomly selected for the study. Each farmer had a set of two treatments (plots): a push-pull and maize monocrop treatments. Data were collected on percentage of maize plants damaged by stemborers, number of emerged striga plants, plant height, grain yield, available phosphorus (P), available potassium (K), total nitrogen (TN), organic carbon (OC), organic matter (OM) and bulk density (BD). Results There were significant reduction in stemborer damage (2.8%) and striga count (4.1 Striga plants/m2) in the push-pull compared to maize monocrop plots (15.4% and 21.8 striga plants/m2, respectively). Maize plant height (2.34 m) and grain yield (5.3 t/ha) were significantly higher in the push-pull plots as compared to sole crop (1.9 m and 3.0 t/ha, respectively). Similarly, there were significantly higher P (20.06 mg/kg soil), K (406.86 mg/kg soil), TN (2.5 g/kg soil), OC (42.9 g/kg soil), OM (73.8 g/kg soil) and BD (0.92 g/cm3) levels rating from moderate to high fertility status in the push-pull as compared to monocrop plots ( 11.17 mg/kg soil, 347.93 mg/kg soil, 1.6 g/kg soil, 29.8 g/kg soil, 0.95 g/cm3 and 51.2 g/kg soil, respectively) which is rated from low to moderate soil fertility level. Moreover, BD was significantly lower in PPT (0.92 g/cm3) than in MC (0.95 g/cm3) plots. Conclusions Therefore it can be concluded that push pull technology is better in improving soil fertility status which results in better grain yield.