Potentials of two bio-pesticides in the control of some field insect pests of bambara groundnut in Ilorin

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to determine the predominate order of insects associated with Bambara groundnut and to compare the efficacy of aqueous leaf extracts of Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) and lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), used as bio-pesticides in controlling some field insect pests of Bambara groundnut. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) using four treatments with four replications. The following parameters were recorded and used to evaluate the efficacy of the treatments; flower population, weight of pods (damaged and undamaged pods), number of pods (damaged and undamaged pods), number of holes on damaged pods and number of insects. The results of the experiment showed that insects of seven distinct Orders- Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera attack Bambara groundnut with each affecting the plant at different stages of the plant’s development. The bio-pesticides significantly (P <0.05) reduced the effects of attack by insects when compared to the control. Lemon grass was the most effective of the bio-pesticides evaluated and can be used by resource poor farmers in the management of Bambara groundnut on the field.

Keywords: Bambara groundnut, bio-pesticide, Cymbopogon citratus, Jatropha curcas