Evaluation of Botanical Mixtures for Insect Pests Management on Cowpea Plants

Studies were conducted at the Research Farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Zaria in 1999 and 2000 rainy seasons to evaluate the efficacy and synergistic activity of extracts mixtures from herbal landraces in reducing pests numbers on cowpea plants and ensuring high yield of grains. The extracts mixed in a ratio 10:10 % w/w included: cashew nutshell + garlic bulb; cashew nutshell + African pepper and garlic bulb + chilli pepper. The results indicated that all the herbal extract mixtures reduced the numbers of the tested insect pests (legume flower bud thrips, legume pod borer larvae and pod sucking bugs) and pod damage as well as increased grain yields by 4 - 5 times compared to the untreated control in the two years of investigation. The synergistic advantage of mixing two different plant species in botanical formulations could play a key role in the renewed effort to control pests of agricultural crops using biopesticides

Nature and Science 2009, Ofor et al Crop protection problems in production of maize and guinea corn Crop Protection Problems in Production of Maize and Guinea Corn in Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria and Control Measures

Abstract: The cultivation of Maize and Guinea corn in the northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria is faced with lots of Crop protection problems which hinder full scale production of these crops in that ecological zone. The problems range from biotic factors like vertebrate and invertebrate pests, disease pathogens, nematode and weeds, to abiotic factors such as nutrient deficiencies, environmental conditions (climatic, edaphic), and agronomic, logistic or social problems. Addressing the various problems militating against the production of maize and Guinea corn in this zone will further help strengthen the national food reserve base and alleviate the devastating effects of the global food crisis particularly i

Crop Protection Problems in Production of Maize and Guinea Corn in Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria and Control Measures

Abstract: The cultivation of Maize and Guinea corn in the northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria is faced with lots of Crop protection problems which hinder full scale production of these crops in that ecological zone. The problems range from biotic factors like vertebrate and invertebrate pests, disease pathogens, nematode and weeds, to abiotic factors such as nutrient deficiencies, environmental conditions (climatic, edaphic), and agronomic, logistic or social problems. Addressing the various problems militating against the production of maize and Guinea corn in this zone will further help strengthen the national food reserve base and alleviate the devastating effects of the global food crisis particularly in Nigeria. [Nature and Science. 2009;7(11):45-51]

Potential use of the Bushmint, Hyptis suaveolens, for the Control of Infestation by the Pink Stalk Borer, Sesamia calamistis on Maize in Southern Benin, West Africa

Maize production in Benin, especially in resource-poor farmers' fields, is constrained by stemborers among other factors. One of the major stemborers in southern Benin is Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). African farmers cannot afford to use commercial insecticides for controlling stemborers - they are expensive and unsuitable for durable pest management systems due to eco-toxicity. There is therefore a need for cheaper and environmentally friendly methods and botanicals offer an attractive alternative. The bushmint, Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae), was compared with the commercial insecticide Furadan (carbofuran) for the control of S. calamistis on maize Zea mays L. (Poales: Poaceae). Trials were conducted in the screenhouse and in the field during the minor cropping season in 2004 at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)-Benin station. The variables measured included numbers of egg masses per plant, eggs per egg mass (in the screenhouse study), population density of S. calamistis, percentage of infested plants and/or ears, and deadhearts in the field. Irrespective of the variable considered, the aqueous extract of H. suaveolens compared favorably with Furadan while maize surrounded by live H. suaveolens plants had lower S. calamistis densities

Fabrication of Probe Trap for Monitoring Cowpea Weevil Infesting Stored Cowpea

Insect probe traps are effective in detecting grain insects but neglected because it is time consuming and precise method of interpreting the catch have not been adequately specified. Interestingly, this is not readily available in Nigeria and where available, it is expensive due to foreign exchange rates. Therefore, there is need for a locally available and more acceptable insect probe trap for integrated pest management practice during postharvest handling of cowpea. Locally sourced materials were used to fabricate a probe trap for monitoring Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) infesting stored cowpea. The fabricated probe trap was evaluated together with a standard probe trap. Treatments were repeated three times, and also tried in three different insect densities (3, 7 and 15 insects per kg respectively) artificially infested into 10 kg cowpea grains contained in plastic storage buckets, and traps were inspected after every 24 hours for five days. The probe trap was also evaluated in 100 kg cowpea sample contained in sack bag to determine the effect of grain volume on the performance of the trap. Data collected were subjected to ANOVA and means were separated using Student Newman Keuls test (SNK) at 5 % confidence level. The result of total trap catches revealed that the fabricated traps’ mean catch (36.6) was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher than the standard probe trap which had lower trap catch mean (12.7) value. Thresholds for management decisions were also determined and the fabricated trap was found to be economically profitable (N 936.75 cheaper); hence, objectives of the study were achieved.  It is recommended for cowpea handlers in Nigeria to use the fabricated insect probe trap because it is effective in monitoring beetles, it is less expensive and also locally available. &nbsp