Assessment of rodent damage to maize (zea mays l.) in fields and stores at Berega village in Kilosa dDstrict, Morogoro, Tanzania.
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Date
2009
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Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study examined rodent damage to maize in fields and stores and associated
losses at Berega village in Kilosa district, Morogoro, Tanzania. The actual rodent
damage in two experimental plots (70 x 70 m) and five farmers' fields was assessed
at seedling stage and yield loss was calculated. No significant (p > 0.05) differences
in seedling damage between experimental plots and among farmefs fields was
observed. Damage of 13.22 and 14% at population of 4 and 6 individual rodents was
observed in experimental plots, respectively and damage range of 30 to 48% at
population range of 1 - 9 individual rodents in farmers' fields. The spatial pattern of
maize damage distribution was estimated to be random for experimental plots and
uniform in four farmers fields and random in one farmers field. There was
significantly less yield loss in untreated (without rodenticide) compared to treated
(with rodenticide) experimental plots (p < 0.01) (i.e. 204 kg and 187 kg9
respectively). Results showed higher yield loss in treated compare to untreated plot
due to larger number of fallen plants hence more rodent infestation. Cob damage
differed significantly (p < 0.001). In storage experiment, open and closed storage
structures were used in the experiment. High significant differences (p <0.001)
occurred between different storage structures and between individual household
houses. Maize grain damage differed significantly (p < 0.001) between storage
structures (sacks and cribs). Damage of 34, 8, 25 and 0% was observed in open cribs,
closed cribs, open sacks and closed sacks, respectively. There was significant
difference (p < 0.001) in grain weight loss and contamination level between storage
structures and household houses (p < 0.05) and higher rodent infestation in open
structures placed in earth floor and thatched grass houses. Results suggest that, to minimize rodent infestation in stored grains improved storage structures should be
used.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Rodent damage, Maize (zea mays l.), Berega village, Kilosa District, Morogoro, Tanzania