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.)
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Date
2016-04-11
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Sustainable Agriculture Research
Abstract
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 AttackĀ® (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 AttackĀ®-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.
Description
An article published by Sustainable Agriculture Research; Vol. 5, No. 2; 2016
Keywords
Cheilonemes, emamectin benzoate, Hellula undalis, natural enemies, Plutella xylostella
Citation
Sustainable Agriculture Research; Vol. 5, No. 2; 2016