BIO-POTENCY EVALUATION OF MIXTURE OF ACACIA POLYACANTHA AND HYMENOCARDIA ACIDA WOOD ASH AGAINST SITOPHILUS ZEAMAIS (MAIZE WEEVIL) IN LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE-NIGERIA
Keywords:
Sitophilus zeamais,, mixture, wood ash, Acacia polyacantha, Hymenocardia acida, bio-potency, evaluationAbstract
The maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais is an insect pest, which has spread all over the world, and causes damage to maize grains and other species of stored cereal. The aim of this study was to investigate the insecticidal efficacy and repellency of mixture of Hymenocardia acida and Acacia polyacantha wood ash against the weevil on a 14 day exposure and trial. The study involved the use of three (3) replicates of the mixture of ashes at treatment doses of 5g, 10g and 20g while 0.5g, 1g, and 1.5g was used for diatomaceous earth (Positive Control). Results showed that mortality was dose dependent, and there was also a significant difference in mortality rate of the weevil across all treatments (P˂ 0.05). The study revealed 100% mortality within the study period similar to the positive control. The wood ash mixture of HA and AP recorded highest percentage progeny inhibition of 100% compared to control (44.44%). The study also demonstrated efficacy in terms of grain damage (1.33%) and weight loss (0.92%) which showed a significant difference compared to the control (2.67% damage and 9.09% weight loss). A highest repellency of 70cm of the mixture of ashes was observed in the treatment with 30% aqueous solution compared to control powder (60cm) which showed a significant difference in repellent properties between different treatments concentrations used. The study recommends that mixture of wood ashes from H. acida and A. polyacantha could be used to reduce grain infestation as stored grain protectants against S. zeamais.
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