Field Evaluation of Pesticidal Potentials of Botanicals in the Management of Striped Cucumber Beetles Acalymma vittatum F. on Cucumber (Cucumis sativus Linn), in the Southern Guinea Savanna
Eke, H. O. *
Department of Crop Production and Protection, Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria.
Kabeh, J. D.
Department of Crop Production and Protection, Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria.
Amos Elam
Department of Crop Production and Protection, Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The experiment evaluates the pesticidal potentials of four botanicals; aqueous neem seed extract, aqueous jatropha seed extract, aqueous parkia seed extract and aqueous delonix seed extract, with synthetics (cypermethrin at 2ml/L) and a control in a RCBD, replicated three times. The plant vigor i.e. agronomic components, vine lengths, diameter (girths), leaves area and numbers showed different advantages over the control, while they competed favorably with the synthetics. The same trends were observed in the 2021 and 2022 cropping seasons with narrow mean differences between treatments. Varied yield advantages were recorded in the botanicals treatment with cypermethrin excelling in both seasons but not significantly different. Fruit damage was much in the control, while fruit lengths and heaviness were more pronounced in the cypermethrin-treated plants. All botanicals limited cucumber beetle population build-ups and were significantly different within a narrow range.
Keywords: Botanical pesticide, cucumber, beetles, cucumber yield managements