Browsing by Author "Mochiah, M. B."

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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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    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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    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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    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