Evaluation of varieties and biopesticide in managing major insect pests of Okro (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench) in the Sudan Savannah Agro Ecological Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Field trials were conducted at two locations in 2018 dry season at the Teaching and Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri and the Mohamet Lawan College of Agriculture Maiduguri to determine the effect of okra variety and insecticides in controlling Flea beetle, Mealy bug and Cotton bollworm. A factorial experiment was laid out in split plot design with variety in the main plot and insecticides as the subplot. There were three okra varieties: Jere, Uba and Yar kwadan and two botanical insecticides (Neem Seed Oil and ethanolic leaf extract of Cassia) and a check (Imidacloprid®) replicated three times. Data collected on damaged and undamaged flowers, fruits and number of insects. Imidacloprid® treated plants significantly (P<0.05) show fewer insect pests compared to ethanolic leaf extract of Cassia. The highest mortality of these insect pests was recorded with Neem Seed Oil extract in both locations. Significantly (P<0.05) higher number of these insect pests were recorded on variety Uba while Jere and Yar kwadan had fewer. Higher yield was recorded in plots treated with Neem Seed Oil and Imidacloprid® compared to ethanolic extract leaf of Cassia in both locations. Neem Seed Oil had significantly increased fruit yield compared to Imidacloprid® and ethanolic leaf extract of Cassia in both locations. Number of damaged flowers were significantly higher in variety Jere in both locations with a corresponding high fruit weight (560.24 kg/ha and 622.81 kg/ha). These results revealed that the performance of Imidacloprid® can be compared with Neem Seed Oil in controlling insect pests of okra. The best combination of variety and insecticide was Jere treated with Neem Seed Oil. From this study, it can be concluded that Neem Seed Oil can be a good alternative to synthetic insecticides against major insect pests of okra.