ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF ARTHROPOD PREDATORS ON MAIZE UNDER DIFFERENT MULCH TYPES

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of mulching on the abundance and diversity of arthropod predators on maize. Three mulch types were tested viz: siam weed (Chromolena odorata), dry grass (Bracharia ruziziensis) and polythene. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times with treatment plot measuring 4x3m. Data on insect abundance were square-root transformed and analysed using one-way Analysis of data (ANOVA). The arthropod predator families recorded were; Formicidae, Forficulidae, Coccinelidae, Pentatomidae, Blattilidae, Mantidae, Cicinedelidae and Reduvidae. Species in the order hymenoptera, family formicidae were the most abundant predators (T1(184), T2(212), T3(224), T4(134) in all the treatments. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in abundance of predators among the treatments at the late whorl stage, where maize mulched with dry grass significantly recorded the highest abundance (14.67) of predators and sole maize recorded the lowest number (8.33) of predators. The diversity of predators in all the treatments were generally low. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the growth and yield parameters among the different treatments. Mulching practices in this study gave a positive effect on predator abundance which in turn could negatively impact pest population. Their potential to enhance biological control could be considered along with other agronomic benefits.