Timing of insecticidal application in vigna unguiculata (l.) Walp, cv. It84s-2246-4 and its potential as late season crop in the calaber area

Abstract

The proper timing of insecticidal application in cowpea cultivar, IT84S-2246-4 using the synthetic pyrethroid, Lamdacyhyhalothrin applied at 25g a.i./ha was investigated in the Calabar area during two late seasons. In the 1990 planting, there was no significant difference in yield of treated and untreated plants (P = 0.05), but all treatments except at 7 DEA significantly reduced pod damage by the legume pod borer, Maruca testulalis Geyr. Though some of the treatments significantly reduced the percentage of seed damage when compared with the untreated check, generally, seed damage due to Maruca was low ranging from 0.7 to 4.3%, with the highest damage occurring in the untreated check. In the 1992 study, treated plants at 7 + 42 + 51 DAE gave significantly higher yield than the untreated check and plants that received treatment at 7 DAE. Similarly, all treatments except 7 DAE, significantly reduced pod manage by Maruca testulalis. The percentage seed damage which were significantly reduced by some of the treatments when compared with the untreated check, were low ranging from 0.0 to 6.7%. The protection of this cowpea cultivar in the Calabar area with synthetic pyrethroid like Lamdacyhalothrin against Maruca and other flowers and pods damaging insect pests could be economically done at 42 DAE and 51 DAE.

Journal of Applied Chemistry and Agricultural Research Vol. 1 (1) 1994: pp. 6-11