EFFICACY OF SOME BOTANICAL EXTRACTS AGAINST INFESTATION OF INSECT PESTS OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to determine the efficacy of some botanical extracts using Neem leaf extracts, Azadiracta indica, Moringa leaf extract Moringa oleifera, Jatropha leaf extract Jatropha gossypifolia and systemic insecticides (Cypermethrin) as treatments. The treatments were arranged in Completely Randomized Design (CRD), replicated three times. Data were collected on parameters such as, number of leaf, plant height, days to 50% flowering, fresh fruit weight and yield weight were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results showed that Moringa leaf extracts had the least insect pests’ damage (0.33), tallest plant height (44.00 cm), highest leaf number (8.00), heaviest fruits weight (46.94 g) and highest fruit yield among the botanicals used. Hence, the leaf of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) can be recommended to be used for managing insect pests of okra.