Management of aflatoxine producing fungi in groundnut (arachis hypogaea l.) varieties in central tigray through soil solarization

Groundnut is the most important rich source of protein, minerals and vitamin. Pre-harvest contamination is influenced by soil moisture and temperature. Field experiments were conducted in northern Ethiopia, at two locations to determine the effect of soil solarization on yield and yield components of groundnut varieties, and to determine Aspergillus spp. inoculum in the soil. Soil samples were taken in three rounds and analyzed for aflatoxigenic population. Soil solarization reduced fungal inoculum and increased groundnut yields. Individual and total Cfu g-1of soil was determined before, after solarization and at harvest. Four Aspergillus species namely, A. flavus, A. parasiticus, A. niger and A. terreus were identified and their densities were significantly (P<0.05) reduced at after solarization. In the solarized plots, A. flavus and A. parasiticus were found reduced by 53.8 and 45% cfu g-1 at Ramma and 36.4 and 44% cfu g-1at 5 and 10 cm soil depths at Mayweyni, respectively, after soil solarization in the solarized plots than the nonsolarized plots. At harvest, Fusarium spp., A. flavus and A. terreus were detected. Pod yields were found increased by 265.6 kg ha-1 and 182.22 kg ha-1on solarized plots at Mayweyni and Ramma respectively. Increase in yield related parameters (14.8% increase in number of seed per plant and 71.4% increase in number of pods per plant) were found from early planting dates as compared to later planting time at Mayweyni. Generally, yields varied across locations; mean pod yield in Mayweyni was 360.9 kg ha-1higher than the yield in Ramma.