Effect of Tillage Practices and Neem Leaves(Azadirachta indica A. Juss) on the Incidence and Severity of Termites on Cassava(Manihot esculenta Crantz) in Owerri

Termites have been identified as one of the major pests of cassava in Nigeria especially on infested soils. Effect of different tillage practices and rates of neem leaves on the incidence and severity of termites on cassava field was investigated in this study. Field experiment was conducted in 2007 at the teaching and research Farm of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. The experiment was laid out in a 3x3 factorial in a randomized complete block design(RCBD) with three replications. The TMS 4(2)1425 was the cassava cultivar used. Treatments comprised three tillage methodsnamely: zero, flats and mounds, and neem leaves at 0 (control), 20 and 30 tons/ha. Results show that mounds and control plots significantly recorded highest termites incidence and severity on Cassava stems, while neem application at 30 tons/ha suppressed termites incidence and severity most. On the other hand mounds and neem leaves at 30 tons/ha produced highest fresh tuber and stem cutting yields

The use of plant extracts in the control of Aspergillus niger in the rot of yam (Dioscorea spp.) during storage

The storage rot of yam (Dioscorea spp) starts from the field to the storage barn. Fungi pathogens affecting yam tubers are controlled by either synthetic pesticides or plant extracts.The following plant extracts, Vernonia amygdalina (bittter leaf), Azadirachta indica (neem), Ocimum gratissimum (nchuanwu), Pergularia spp. (utazi), Citrus aurantifolia (lime), Allium sativum (gallic), and Capsicum annum (red pepper) were used to control the rot of yam (caused by Aspergillus niger). The ethanol extracts of the test plants were observed to have higher fungitoxic ability than the water extracts on A. niger, which was isolated from the rotten yam tubers. Ethanol extracts of A. indica and O. gratissimum were observed to have the highest percentage fungi growth inhibition, having 68.8% and 65.2% respectively, while A. sativum, and C. annum had the lowest with 36.3% and 40.6% respectively. A. indica was also observed to have the highest severity and A. sativum had the lowest. However, yam tubers which were treated 2 days before inoculation were observed to have more inhibitory effect on the fungi pathogen than those treated 2 days after inoculation.Keywords: storage-rot, yam-tubers, plant-extracts, fungal-pathogens, severityInternational Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 6 2005: 74-8

Integrated pest management (IPM) and good agricultural practices (GAP) in relation to food security: need for government policy for successful implementation

Agricultural development is caught between increased competition accompanied by decreasing prices, land degradation and concerns for sustainability, environment, safe food and animal / human health. Pesticides have been around in some form or another for centuries and have posed a lot of harm to our crops, environment and animals over the years. The increased environmental and public health awareness and the need to implement sustainable agricultural production systems have discouraged the injudicious use of pesticides. Integrated pest management (IPM) and Good agricultural practices (GAP) aims to minimise the use of chemical pesticides and to ensure an integration of various control measures in an informal manner without harmful effects on the environment and occupational and public health. Decision makers in developing countries have to find an appropriate balance between a careful reversal of proactive pesticide support in the traditional agricultural development agenda, which nevertheles does not endanger food security and rural development objectives. For a successful implementation of IPM and GAP, government policy on agricultural development need to provide financial resources for their continual development. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 7(1) 2006: 80-8

Efficacy of Garlic and Other Plant Extracts In the Control of Septorial Leaf Spot of Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum)

The attempt by man to improve crop yield in order to produce enough food for consumption by the increasing population is a decision in the right direction which has led to search of biopesticides of plant origin. The research work studied the effect of different rates of garlic juice in the control of septorial leaf spot of tomato caused by the fungus Cercospora sp. and also other plant extracts were compared with garlic so as to ascertain the effectiveness of garlic in the control of these leaf spots. The 0.5L of garlic (Allium sativum) spray produced the least number of infected leaves in all the different rates of applications. The utazi (Pergularia spp) spray was significantly different (P<0.05) from the bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and garlic (Allium sativum) spray and produced significantly lower number of infected leaflets (0-1.5) than that of the bitter leaf (1.5-3.0) and garlic (2.7-3.7) spray throughout the 6 weeks

Field Evaluation of Various Plant Biocides in the Control of Black Sigatoka Disease in Plantians

A field experiment was conducted at the Federal University of Technology, Teaching and Research Farm, Owerri in 2005 to evaluate the efficiency of using seven plant biocides (extracts) in the control of Black Sigatola disease in plantains. The experiment was carried out using the randomized complete block design with three replications. The Treatments include: Azadiractha indica (neem plant), Vernonia amygdlina (Bitter leaf) Ocimum gratissium (Nchanwu) Pergularia sp (utazi) Allium sativum (garlic), Citrus aurantifolia (lime) and Piper guinensis. (African Black Pepper). Data on disease development and efficacy of each plant biocide were collected at flowering on 5 plants of maturity per plot using the youngest leaf spotted (YLS) method. The proportion of the leaf area showing symptoms was scored on a scale of 0 to 6. A disease severity index (DSI) which also had a low DSI was also calculated were analyzed using the analysis of variance. Pair-wise testing between means was done using the Duncan New multiple range test at 5% level of probability. Results indicated that the ethanol extracts of plant biocides from Azadiractha indica and Piper guinensis were significantly (P. = 0.05) more effective than other plant biocides as observed from the youngest leaf spotted (YLS) assessed at flowering after 8 spray applications. The DSI recorded two weeks before harvest has 1.6 for Azadiractha indica and 0.8 for Piper guinensis which confirmed results from the YLS assessment. It is hereby strongly recommended to apply ethanol extract sprays of Azadiractha indica and Piper guinensis extracted at the rate of 20g plant material dissolved in 100ml ethanol due to its high level of fungitoxic ability on Black Sigatoka disease in plantains. It was also observed that ethanol extract of plant materials was more effective and efficacious in fungitoxic ability than the water extracts respectively