Cultural practices for the control of termite (Isoptera) damage to yams and cassava in south‐eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Seed‐bed types, fertilizers, cassava stem portions, planting time and yam cultivars were studied for the incidence of termites in cassava and yam fields. Planting cassava on ridges reduced the incidence of termites and significantly (P<0.05) increased tuber yield. The bottom stem portion of cassava stick was the least attacked by termites. Planting cuttings when rains became steady reduced termite incidence. NPKMg (12:12:17:2) suppressed termites in yam and improved yield significantly. Delay in harvesting yam tubers increased termite infestation. Yield loss was highest for Dioscorea rotundata cv. Nwopoko, with losses of more than 5 metric tonnes/ha when harvest was done after December in termite infested soil. Chinese yam showed the greatest resistance to termites.

Keywords:

• cassava
• yam
• termite control
• termite damage
• Nigeria