The Effect of Selected Biopesticides and Packaging Materials on some Quality Parameters of Stored Cowpea.

Abstract

A study to assess the effect of some locally available biopesticide on some quality parameters: Level of infestation, weight loss and seed germination of stored cowpea was carried out over a 12 weeks period. The test materials consist of three storage media namely polypropylene bag, Jute bag and plastic container with cloth covering and three biopesticide namely Lemon grass, garlic bulb and Orange peel at three different levels of concentration of 2.5g, 5.0g and 10.0g and three control (no biopesticide).The biopesticide had varying degree of effects on the level of infestation and weight loss on stored cowpea. Cowpea treated with lemon grass gave better results than the control in the level of infestation and weight loss and was followed by garlic bulb powder and orange peel powder been the least at similar level. Cowpea stored in jute bag had more damaged seed and weight loss compared with other storage media which makes it less suitable for storing the treated cowpea seed. The different treatment had no adverse effect on the germination.