Mdangi, M., Mulungu, L.S., Massawe, A.W., Eiseb, S.J., Tutjavi, V., Kirsten, F., Mahlaba, T., Malebane, P., von Maltitz, E., Monadjem, A., Dlamini, N., Makundi, R.H. and Belmain, S.R. ORCID: 0000-0002-5590-7545 (2013) Assessment of rodent damage to stored maize (Zea mays L.) on smallholder farms in Tanzania. International Journal of Pest Management, 59 (1). pp. 55-62. ISSN 0967-0874 (Print), 1366-5863 (Online) (doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/09670874.2012.744495)

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Abstract

This study examined rodent damage, loss and contamination in stored maize on smallholder farms in East Africa. Different, novel techniques for assessing rodent damage, namely open and closed storage structures (cribs and sacks), were employed in a treatment-control trial design replicated across different households and hamlets within the Berega community of Central Tanzania. Significant correlations were observed between the monthly rates of rodent-damaged maize seeds, maize weight loss and the number of rodent droppings. Significant differences in damage, loss and contamination occurred between different storage structures (open and closed cribs and sacks). The mean monthly rate of damage was 40.4%, 7.9%, 17.7% and 0% percent in open cribs, closed cribs, open sacks and closed sacks, respectively. Our results suggest that reducing rodent infestation through the use of improved storage structures could lead to major savings in the amount and quality of stored food available to households, thus increasing food security.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	[1] First published online: 7 January 2013. [2] Published in print: 2013.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	contamination, post-harvest, rodent damage, storage structures, weight loss
Subjects:	S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Agriculture, Health & Environment Department Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Pest Behaviour Research Group
Related URLs:	Publisher Publisher Organisation Organisation
Last Modified:	27 Jun 2014 10:03
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/9469

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