Efficacy of Some Botanical Extracts on the Population and Severity of Infestation of Flea Beetles on Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

Abstract

A field trial was carried out at the Teaching and Research farm of the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State (latitude 90.401 North and longitude 60.30I East) in 2017 cropping season to determine the efficacy of some bio- pesticides for the management of flea beetle infestation on okra. There were 15 plots, each having four ridges 4m long and 0.75m apart, each plot had a 12m2 gross area separated with 1m margin in between plots. Three bio-pesticide formulations: Neem-bark extract (10 grams per litre), Hot-pepper wax (10 grams per litre), mixture of neem-bark extract and hot pepper wax (5 grams each per litre) compared to a synthetic insecticide (laraforce) at 2 ml per litre, and an untreated control. All the treatments used had three (3) replications arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The population of flea beetles (Podagrica uniforma and Nisotra dilecta) were taken before and after treatments for four weeks from third week after planting. All data collected were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means separated with Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at 5% level of significance. The results showed that all the treatments had significant effect on the flea beetle population, and infestation of okra leaves. Flea beetles, bio-pesticides, mixture, neem-bark, hot pepper wax, laraforce.