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Comparative studies on the efficacy of neem, basil leaf
extracts and synthetic insecticide, lambda-cyhalothrin,
against
Podagrica spp.
on okra
Ahmed Oladimeji* and
Musa Abdulrasak Kannike
Department
of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture University of
Ilorin, P. M. B 1515 Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
ahmelad2007@yahoo.com. Tel:
+2348038365315.
Accepted 7 July, 2009 |
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The efficacy of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss),
basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaf extracts and lambda-cyhalothrin
were compared at three levels of concentration against flea
beetle, Podagrica spp. (Jac.) in okra. The leaf
extracts were applied at 5, 10 and 20 ml per litre while
lambda-cyhalothrin was applied at 2.5, 3.75 and 5.0 ml per
litre. Distilled water only served as control. In this
study, treatment of okra plant with the synthetic
insecticide and the leaf extracts against Podagrica spp.
using hand spray significantly suppressed (P
< 0.05) insect population, reduced leaf damage and enhanced
dry pod yield. The treated okra plants performed
significantly better (P < 0.05) than the control. Percentage
reduction in leaf damage ranged between 21 - 43% in
O. basilicum, 50 - 54% in A. indica
and 72 - 81% in lambda-cyhalothrin compared with the
control. There was significant linear negative relationship
between dry pod yield and surface area of leaf damaged by
the insect (0.001 < P > 0.01).
Key
words:
Botanical insecticide, Azadirachta indica, Ocimum
basilicum, synthetic insecticide, Abelmoschus
esculentus, flea beetle. |
