1/8) Agronomy Tip 17/365, 2021.
The Bean Stem Maggot
Bean Stem Maggots also known as Bean flies are often considered as the most important field pest of beans in Africa. They account for yield losses ranging from 80 - 100% @basera_john@agribusiness110@WendyMadzura@Fifi_dvc
2/8) The Bean fly has shiny wings & a black body. It lays its eggs on the first leaves of the bean seedlings as they emerge from the soil. The maggots hatch & enter inside the plant, where they feed. Bean stem maggots feed at the base of stems @SandraNabasirye@MoLAWRR_Zim
3/8) Which blocks movement of water & nutrients from the roots to the upper parts of the plant. The damage caused by Bean Stem Maggot is more serious during the seedling stage. The pest attack the plant at the beginning of the unfolding @CdeNMaswerasei@MaminiminiObert
4/8) of the first pair of leaves & it begin to attack as other new leaves unfold. Bean Stem Maggot oviposits directly in the plant tissue & the emerging maggots feed in the stem & disrupt water & nutrient transport. Leaves of attacked plants turn yellow @PhiriDivah@MM_Garden1
5/8) Wilt & the plant dies.
When the maggots are fully grown, they turn into black & brown pupae. The pupae cn be seen bulging behind the plant skin at the base of stem. These hatch into bean flies whch fly around bean plants.
WHAT TO DO: @agribusiness110@AgritexS@akin_adesina
6/8) PREVENTION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN CURE. Farmers are urged NOT to wait for ALL THE DAMAGE SIGNS & SYMPTOMS indicated in this article to appear BUT to deal with the MENACE way before it causes any havoc to your crop!
This is done by applying @Agricura_ZW@basera_john
7/8) @Agricura_ZW DIAZINON 30EC at Day 3, 6, 9, 13 & 20 AFTER GERMINATION applying as low as ONLY 180mls per hectare. What are you waiting for? Visit your nearest Agricura branch & grab yourself 'THE SOLUTION' to the popular Bean Stem Maggot @agribusiness110@WendyMadzura
1/12 @Agricura_ZW Agronomy Tip 18/365. Fall Armyworm (FAW) is a devastating trans-boundary pest of Maize. The pest displays a wide host range attacking over 80 different plant species including major crops e.g. Cotton, Groundnuts, Sorghum, Wheat, Potatoes, Soyas @basera_john
2/12 Its polyphagous nature present challenges in
management due to the presence of alternative hosts outside the production season of main
crops. So far losses due to confirmed/suspected infestations of FAW in Maize, Sorghum, Rice & sugarcane in African countries @MoLAWRR_Zim
WEED MANAGEMENT:
WE ALL KNOW that weeds are problematic. They compete with our crops for nutrients, water, sunlight. They also harbour pests & diseases. If Shamva grass is not controlled timeously, it can cause up to 70% yield reduction in MAIZE! @basera_john@agribusiness110
A weed free field from planting to harvesting, together with superior genetics from Syngenta, Seedco, Monsanto etc. plus good "Agronomics" in a most likely "Good Season" is indeed a "formula for robust productivity & success" USE @Agricura_ZW HERBICIDES FOR CLEANER FIELDS
For a Maize monocultural set up: A combination of Metolachlor 1.5Lt/ha + Atrazine 3Lt/ha is ideal in terms of pre-emergent HERBICIDES. Those into rotations ~ a combination of Metolachlor 1.5Lt/ha + MCPA 3Lt/ha is ideal! @basera_john@agribusiness110@MoLAWRR_Zim@WendyMadzura
1/2) Simple Agrometrics
When interpreting Soil Analysis Results, you MUST state the type of Crop e.g. Maize, Potato etc., then the Yield target e.g. 10 tons/ha etc. In terms of nutrition, YOU MUST FIRST SATISFY PHOSPHORUS REQUIREMENTS @MoLAWRR_Zim@basera_john@WendyMadzura
2/2) This is because GENERALLY - ZIMBABWEAN SOILS LACK PHOSPHORUS! Also phosphorus is technically immobile in the soil, with some scholars arguing that mobility can never exceed 1/8 of an inch per YEAR! @basera_john@MoLAWRR_Zim@Rusere_Ronald@WendyMadzura@mucharedzeyi
1/2) SOIL ANALYSIS
Afterthought: Soil Analysis is done in the Laboratory. In ZIMBABWE one can take their samples to Aglabs at @Agricura_ZW, UZ, TRB @MoLAWRR_Zim , Zimlabs,, Results will come through in the form of a Soil Test Certificate @basera_john@MM_Garden1@Rusere_Ronald