Neem (Azadirachta indica) kernel powder (NKP) mixed 1:1 (weight basis) with some inert diluents (fine-sand, kaolin-dust, and saw-dust) were applied into the whorls of sorghum seedlings . Cost-benefit analysis shows that it was financially most beneficial to use NKP + fine-sand to control S. calamistis on sorghum in Nigerian Sudan savanna.
Two field trials were conducted from 2003 to 2005 on the effects of neem pesticides on whorl larva, stem-borer and panicle pests of sorghum. In the first trial (2003)(2004)) the effect of neem seed granules (NSG) and carbofuran (furadan 3G 1 ) inserted into the sorghum whorl at 30, 40 and 50 days after sowing (DAS) were tested on whorl larva, stem borer and grain yield. Results showed that NSG and carbofuran significantly (P 0.01) reduced whorl larva feeding, leaf puncturing and chaffy panicle, and significantly (P 0.01) increased grain yield compared with untreated check. In the second trial, (2004)(2005), aqueous neem seed extract (ANSE), neem seed oil (NSO) and deltamethrin (Decis 12 EC 1 ) were sprayed at anthesis and grain filling stages. Results also showed that the three pesticides significantly (P 0.01) reduced insect damage and also significantly (P 0.01) increased grain yield by 28.3% (deltamethrin), 19.4% (NSO) and 17.9% (ANSE) above the yield of check. It is suggested that neem pesticides may be suitable as alternatives to synthetic pesticides for the management of sorghum whorl larva, stem borers and panicle insect pests in the Nigerian Sudan savannah.
Field trials in which seed dressing with Apron Star 42 WS (metalaxyl-M) was tested on five pearl millet cultivars were laid at Gashua (Sahel) and Maiduguri (Sudan Savanna) for three wet seasons (1998)(1999)(2000). Using the split-plot design, seed dressing and cultivars were tested in main-and sub-plots, respectively. Results showed that at each location and season, there was significantly high seedling emergence and grain yield but lower downy mildew incidence as a result of seed dressing with metalaxyl-M compared with check. Among the cultivars tested, SOSAT C-88 had significantly lower downy mildew incidence and the highest grain yield during the three seasons. Dressed with metalaxyl-M, other cultivars had lower downy mildew and higher grain yield than undressed check. It is therefore important that pearl millet should be dressed with metalaxyl as routine practice before cultivation in the arid area of Nigeria.
Harvester ants (Messor galla Forel) would defy various control strategies. Two field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of spent engine-oil and other naturebased materials on their emergence in Maiduguri, Borno State of Nigeria. The evaluated treatments are spot applications of spent engine-oil and some natural materials in experiment 1 and individual and equal mixture of pure neem seed kernel oil and spent engine-oil in experiment 2. Spot application of permethrin served as positive control. Experiment 1 results showed no significant difference (p>0.05) between permethrin and spent engine-oil (which was the most effective treatment). While neem seed oil was significantly (p<0.01) more effective than the untreated control, the result on the 28 th day after application showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in the population index of ants that emerged from nests treated with aqueous neem seed extract, salt/potash solution and extract of Eugenia aromatica fruit from those of the untreated control. Experiment 2 result showed no significant difference (p<0.05) between Permethrin, spent engine-oil, neem seed kernel oil and an equal mixture by volume of pure neem seed kernel oil and spent engineoil in suppressing the emergence of the ants. These were, however, significantly different (p>0.05) from the untreated control. While the result shows no significant difference between the insecticidal treatments, it was observed that equal mixture of spent engine-oil and neem seed kernel oil was the most effective, followed by spent engine-oil, permethrin and neem seed kernel oil in that order.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.