Control of Field Insect Pest of Maize (Zea mays L.) with Selected Plant Extracts

Abstract

Crop protection is facing economic and ecological challenge due to human and environmental hazards resulting from the abuse of synthetic insecticides. Therefore, this study was conducted at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching and Research Farm Ogbomoso, Nigeria, to determine the insecticidal efficacy of Moringa oleifera, Petivera alliacea and their combination against insect pests of maize. Lambda cyhalothrin and untreated plots were included in the treatments; which were arranged in randomized complete block design and each treatment was replicated three times. Data were collected on the number of larvae of Musician nigrivenella, number of cobs, and number of damage cobs, and grain yields (t/ha). The result shows that M. oleifera and P. alliacea had the same insecticidal effects on M. nigrivenella. Combination of the two tested plant extract with Lambdachyalothrin separately effectively performed better than application of the single plant extracts. However, application of single plant extracts compete effectively with their combination with Lambdacyhalothrin in respect to number of cobs, damage cobs, cobs yield and grain yields. All the treatments had significant higher cob (4.83-5.13 t/ha) and grain yield (3.55-4.84 t/ha) than what was obtained in the untreated plots (1.96 t/ha and 0.26 t/ha, respectively). Therefore, plant extracts can be used in the management of insect pest of maize.