Browsing by Author "Baidoo, P. K."

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    Bioefficacy of Garlic, Allium sativum and Tobacco Nicotiana tabacum on Mortality, Ovipository Inhibition and Adult Emergence of the Cowpea Beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.) on Cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L.) (Walp.)
    (American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 2016-07-31) Baidoo, P. K.; Mochiah, M. B.
    Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of garlic and tobacco in the management of the cowpea beetle (Callosobruchus maculatus) and how these affect oviposition by adult females, adult emergence and sex ratio. Study Design: The study was conducted in a randomised complete block design consisting of six treatments and three replications. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was carried out at the Biocontrol Section of CropsResearch Institute, Kwadaso, Kumasi over a four month period. Methodology: Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of garlic and tobacco leaves were prepared; these preparations were compared with a standard chemical insecticide, Betallic and a control. Four kilogrammes of untreated cowpea seeds were sorted to obtain whole uninfested grains. Six hundred of the sorted seeds were placed in 1L Kilner jars. Fifty millilitres of each extract was sprayed onto the seeds in their respective jars and allowed to dry. Ten pairs of adult C. maculatus were introduced into each jar. Similar set-ups were done with the insecticide and control seeds. Mortality was recorded every 6 hours after treatment for 24 hours. Data were also collected on oviposition, adult emergence and sex ratio. Results: Garlic-treated seeds did not record any mortality within the first 18 hours; no mortality was recorded in the control seeds, whereas the insecticide-treated seeds recorded 100 % mortality. Significantly fewer eggs were laid on the treated seeds than the control seeds. Sex ratio of the emerged adults varied within the period of observation. Aqueous extracts of the botanicals performed better in terms of insect control and oviposition inhibition than the ethanolic extracts. Conclusion: Aqueous extracts of both plants produced better results than the ethanolic extracts. Aqueous extract, being cheaper, easier and safer to prepare could be adopted by the average small-scale farmer to manage C. maculatus.
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    Build-up of insect pests and their natural enemies on rotated and non-rotated okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentus Mill) and egg plant (Solanum melongena (L.) Moench.) fields
    (Journal of Applied Biosciences, 2017-02-28) Baidoo, P. K.; Mochiah, M.B.; Apo, W.; Teye-Anim1, H. K.
    Objective: The quest for increased food production requires crops to be protected from pests and diseases. The readily available means of controlling pests is the application of chemical pesticides, with its attendant negative effects on humans and the environment. The study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of crop rotation as a pest control measure and how this affects the population of natural enemies of the pests. Methodology and Results: The build-up of insect pests’ of tomato, okra and eggplant and their natural enemies on rotated and non-rotated fields were studied. The rotated and non-rotated fields were each replicated 3 times. The different insect pests that infested the crops were identified and counted. Aphids and whiteflies were assessed using a scoring scale from 0 to 5. Natural enemies of the pests were also identified and counted. Significantly, larger numbers of Bemisia tabaci, Aphis gossypii, Podagrica uniforma, Zonocerus variegatus and Locusta migratoria were sampled on the crops on the non-rotated than the rotated fields. Numbers of natural enemies, Dictynia sp Coccinella sp and Camponotus sp were not significantly different on the rotated and non-rotated fields but crop yields were significantly higher on the rotated field. Conclusion and application of findings: The results of the study indicated that rotating crops on the same piece of land resulted in reduction in pests’ numbers and an increase in crop yields. The reliance on pesticides alone to manage pests may not be the best option to reduce pests because of the negative effects of pesticides on the environment. Crop rotation can therefore be adopted as a cultural control option in the overall management of pests.
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    Comparing the Effectiveness of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) and Hot Pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) in the Management of the Major Pests of Cabbage Brassica oleracea (L.)
    (Sustainable Agriculture Research, 2016-04-11) Baidoo, P. K.; Mochiah, M. B.
    The use of chemical insecticides in crop production has resulted in increased food production in Africa, but their use has resulted in the destruction of beneficial organisms and development of resistance by some insects to the insecticides. The effectiveness of garlic Allium sativum and hot pepper, Capsicum frutescens in controlling the pests of cabbage, Brassica oleracea was evaluated. These botanicals were compared with a standard chemical insecticide Attack® (Emamectin benzoate). The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design, with 3 treatments and a control, each of which was replicated 3 times. Plutella xylostella, Brevicoryne brassicae, Hellula undalis and Trichoplusia ni were found on cabbage plants. Significantly fewer of them were found on the treated plants than the control plants. The use of the plant extracts resulted in a reduction in mortality ranging from 10.76% to 55.94%. Fewer natural enemies of B. brassicae were sampled on the insecticide-sprayed plots than the garlic and pepper-sprayed plots. The cost of protecting cabbage plants from insect infestation using Attack was higher than the botanicals. Garlic-treated plots recorded the highest cost: benefit ratio of 1:16 while Attack®-treated plots recorded the least of 1: 9.2. The control effects of the botanicals compared favourably with that of the chemical insecticides. Thus these botanicals can be used as substitutes to chemical insecticides.
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    The effect of different percentages of bulking agent (sawdust) on microbial quality of faecal sludge
    (Water Science & Technology, 2013) Mensah, P. Y.; Kuffour, R. A.; Baidoo, P. K.; Awuah, E.
    The use of raw sludge spread on land as conditioner and fertilizer has been practised over the years in urban agriculture. However, this raw sludge (biosolids) is associated with a potential health risk as a result of the pathogenic microorganisms it contains. The study considered the dewatering of faecal sludge (FS) mixed with sawdust to produce biosolids that can be applied as manure for agricultural use. It assessed the bacterial and helminth egg qualities of the biosolids produced from FS-sawdust mixture. Bench-scale unplanted filter beds were used for dewatering of FS mixed with different percentages of sawdust. The sludge consisted of public toilet sludge and septage in the ratio of 1:3. An analysis of variance of the completely randomized design was undertaken and a P-value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The sawdust-FS mixture analysed after complete dewatering showed significant reduction in microbial (bacteria) content (P < 0.05) and helminth eggs, making the biosolids produced safe for farmers and the environment. The bulking agent improved the quality of the biosolids, with greatest pathogen removal observed in the 150% sawdust, whilst the least reduction was recorded in the 0% sawdust (control).
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    Effects of mulching materials on agronomic characteristics, pests of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and their natural enemies population
    (AGRICULTURE AND BIOLOGY JOURNAL OF NORTH AMERICA, 2012) Mochiah, M. B.; Baidoo, P. K.
    The trial was to study the effect of different mulching materials on agronomic characteristics, pests and their subsequent effect on the natural enemies of the pests of pepper (Capsicum annuum). A field experiment was conducted at the Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), between December, 2010 and March, 2011. The mulching materials used were (1) straw mulch, (2) plastic mulch and (3) live-mulch of cowpea plant. The experimental field contained fifteen plots using a randomised complete block design in three replications. Parameters measured were pests of Capsicum annuum, some natural enemies of the pests, days to 50% flowering, plant height, plant girth, damage caused and yield assessment which included damaged fruits caused by the pests, number of fruits, fruit weight (in grams), and percentage increase in fruit yield. Plant height was seemingly highest under straw mulched soils. Straw mulch also flowered early as compared to the live-mulch of cowpea and plastic mulch but the margin was narrow. None of the mulches exhibited higher pest suppression ability over the other. However, Straw mulch had apparently larger population of natural enemies than the other treatments. Damaged fruits in the three mulching materials did not differ significantly. Control plot soils had significantly (P<0.05) higher temperatures than the mulched soils. The results indicated that straw mulch enhanced plant height and increased fruit number and percentage yield whilst live-mulch of cowpea and plastic mulch reduced plant height, fruit number and percentage yield. Data generated in this study have shown that cowpea mulch may be more effective in suppressing pest populations of pepper but straw mulch may provide a better refuge for the natural enemies and should be recommended as an integral option for pest management in pepper production. Ad you may be interested in Full-text
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    The Role of Seed Coat and Its Pigmentation on the Acceptance of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc.) Cultivars by the Cowpea Beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.)
    (Advances in Entomology, 2015-10) Baidoo, P. K.; Kwansa, N. A.; Annin, C. P.
    Bambara groundnut, Vigna subterranea is an important legume crop that is adaptable to the dry regions of Africa. It is a major source of protein to people in many parts of Africa. One major constraint to increased production of the crop is the incidence of the storage pest Callosobruchus maculatus which causes significant weight loss to seeds in storage. The preference of the cowpea beetle C. maculatus for a particular seed coat colour was determined using four different colour types of bambara groundnut in an arena. The olfactory attractiveness of testa against cotyledon and cotyledon against whole grain was carried out in an olfactometer. Oviposition preference of C. maculatus on the different seed colours was determined. In the arena experiment significantly more of the beetles showed preference for cream and mottled seeds than red and black seeds. Significantly more beetles chose seeds with testa over decorticated seeds as well as whole grain over decorticated seeds. Colour significantly affected the seeds as oviposition sites. Significantly fewer eggs were laid on red and black seeds than cream seeds in both the choice and no choice tests (P < 0.0001). Thus for the purpose of reducing losses of seeds in storage it is advisable to cultivate redand black-coloured seeds which showed lower acceptability to C. maculatus as oviposition site.
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    Varietal Susceptibility of Improved Cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L.) (Walp.) Cultivars to Field and Storage Pests
    (Sustainable Agriculture Research, 2014-03-26) Baidoo, P. K.; Mochiah, M. B.
    Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata is widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics as food for man and livestock. The crop is highly prone to pests and diseases which limit its production. Resistant cowpea varieties have become increasingly important in the management of both field and storage pests. Three improved cowpea varieties and one local variety were screened for their susceptibility to field and storage pests. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four treatments and three replications. The different pests infesting the plants were identified and counted. Aphids and thrips were scored on a scale of 0-5, depending on the levels of infestations. Natural enemies’ numbers, leaf damage, pod damage and yield were assessed. Callosobruchus maculatus infestations during storage and weight reduction were determined over a six week period. Aphids and M. sjostedti score, M. virtrata and Empoasca sp. numbers did not differ significantly; however, significantly more pod sucking bubs attacked the local variety than the improved varieties. Natural enemies’ numbers on the various cultivars did not differ significantly. Yield was however significantly better in the improved varieties. The local variety suffered the largest weight reduction (20.91%) during storage while Nhyira suffered the least weight reduction of 4.23%. The use of improved varieties and application of pests’ control measures will increase cowpea production in Ghana