Effect of Dimethoate, Garlic and Neem Cake Extracts on Aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) of Okra (Abelmschus esculentus L.)

Abstract

A field trial was conducted at Hamelmalo Agricultural College, State of Eritrea to study the occurrence and management of aphid (Aphis gossypii) on okra. The effect of dimethoate, neem cake, and garlic oil extract were tested with the objective to compare efficiency of the treatments in controlling the population of aphids. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with four replications. The sprays were done in ten days interval whereas counting of nymph and adult population on leaves and flower was done three times before and after each spray. The result of the studies showed that the population of aphids was highly controlled from the beginning of the first spray of dimethoate while the botanical pesticides showed effective control starting from the second spray. As regard the effect of the treatment on average yield (Kg/ha) of okra, dimethoate gave increased yield by 4.05 per cent. Higher pod number per plot was recorded in the dimethoate treated plots compared to both neem and garlic extracts. However, statistically both dimethoate and neem were on par with respect to yield. Overall, neem was found to be the most profitable.