Effect of insecticide application on pests of late maturing pigeonpea cultivar (Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp.) intercropped with maize, cassava, yam and cocoyam

Abstract

The effect of insecticide application on the incidence of pests of late maturing pigeonpea cultivar in intercrops with maize, yam, cassava, and cocoyam was carried out at the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka agro-ecological zone in 2000/2001 cropping season. The experiment was laid out using split-plot in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The main treatment comprised the following: Yam, Cassava, Cocoyam, maize intercrops and sole pigeonpea. From the studies, insecticidal treatment significantly controlled flower thrips (Megalurothrips sjostedti) and pod-sucking bugs, - (Clavigralla tomentosicollis) both of which were observed as the serious pests at flowering and podding phases of pigeonpea, but did not offer any significant control of pod borers and podfly on pigeonpea , seed damage. Intercropping on the other hand could not reduce the incidence of flower thrips, podborers - Helicoverpa armigera, pod sucking bugs, - C. tomentosicollis and podfly - Melanagromyza obtusa with regard to seed damage by these pests. Insecticidal treatment improved pigeonpea grain yield (kg/ha) and the weight of 1000 seeds. Intercropping pigeonpea with cocoayam may therefore be of value as a pest control strategy and can be combined with chemical control to achieve remarkable control of pigoenpea pests under the integrated management concept.

Nigerian Journal of Technology and Education in Nigeria Vol. 8(2) 2003: 54-64