BACKGROUND: The ability of a plant to resist or tolerate pests is grounded partially in favorable physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. OBJECTIVES: Investigate the influence of nutrient sources on Podagrica uniforma and Nisota dilecta infestation, population dynamics and performances of okra. METHODS: The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design with 4 treatments (5 t.ha-1 poultry manure, 5 t.ha-1 pig manure, 5 t.ha-1 cattle manure and control (no manure), replicated three times. P. uniforma and N. dilecta (Coleoptera: Chrysomalidae) infestation on okra in respond to nutrient sources application were investigated at the Teaching and Research Farm of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria during 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons. RESULT: The experiment showed that pig manure recorded the lowest amount of defoliation (17.0 ± 6.15 and 8.66 ± 2.62) in both planting season, it also recorded a low number of fruits in 2015 and 2016 planting season (3.00 ± 3.46 and 2.11 ± 1.92) and fruit weight (21.04 ± 26.37 and 12.26 ± 10.52) respectively. The highest yield (number of fruits) was recorded in poultry manure in 2015 (6.00 ± 3.61) and control in 2016 (4.66 ± 4.25), the highest fruit weight was recorded in control plot in both planting seasons (61.75 ± 52.00 and 43.04 ± 40.36). Poultry manure recorded moderate amount of defoliation (19.73 ± 21.42 and 9.57 ± 3.10) along the season. Also poultry manure record moderate amount of defoliation also record the highest number of yield (3.58 ± 3.52) when compared to other treatment (pig, cattle and control). It was concluded that poultry manure is best suitable for the production of okra. CONCLUSION: Both pig and poultry manure are best for controlling P. uniforma and N. dilecta infestation on okra as they both show greater tolerant and compensatory ability and thus recommended for the management and suppression of P. uniforma and N. dilecta population in studied area. تفاصيل المقالة

BACKGROUND: Botanicals insecticides has remained the major weapons amongst tropical zones farmers to combat hexapods infestation of stored cowpea seeds in lieu of expensive synthetic chemical insecticides that have toxic effects on our environment. OBJECTIVES: Deterrence of cowpea bruchid oviposition and emergence on seeds treated with Cheese wood, Alstonia boonei stem bark oil extracted with different solvents was evaluated in dual- and multiple-choice laboratory tests at 28+2oC and 75+5% relative humidity. METHODS: Four rates of oil (1%, 2%, 3% and 4%) or the solvents and an untreated control treatment were replicated four times in Complete Randomized Design. RESULT: The results of the dual-choice test shows that cowpea bruchid laid fewer eggs on cowpea seeds treated with petroleum ether and n–hexane oils of A. boonei stem bark oil compared to the other solvent treated seeds and untreated seeds. The numbers of eggs laid on cowpea seeds treated with 1.0 % oil extracted with methanol, ethanol, acetone, petroleum ether and n-hexane were 3.75 3.00 6.25, 2.25 and 2.00 respectively while the corresponding values for solvents-treated seeds were 9.00, 11.50, 12.50, 6.75 and 4.25, respectively. Generally, oviposition decreased as the concentration (1%, 2%, 3%, 4%) of the oils increased. The results of the multiple choice test shows that untreated cowpea seeds had significantly higher number of eggs than treated seeds. Among the latter, those treated with n– hexane had least numbers of eggs. The numbers of eggs laid on cowpea seeds treated with 2% oil extracted with methanol, ethanol, acetone, petroleum ether and n-hexane were 3.25, 4.00, 7.00, 2.00 and 1.50, respectively. The number of egg laid decreased as the concentration (1%, 2%, 3%, 4%) of the oils increased. Methanol, ethanol, petroleum ether and n-hexane extracts completely inhibited the progeny development of C. maculatus in dual and multiple choice tests. CONCLUSION: A. boonei stem barkoil can control cowpea bruchid infestation on stored cowpea by deterring oviposition and suppressing development. تفاصيل المقالة