Effect of sowing dates, intra-row spacings and pesticides on cowpea pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Fab.) [Lepidoptera: Crambidae] populations on cowpea, Vigna unguiculata L. (Walp) in Katsina, Sudan savanna

• Published in: International journal of tropical insect science 2022-02, Vol.42 (1), p.581-589
• Main Authors: Muhammad, A., Malgwi, A. M., Nahunnaro, H., Adamu, R. S., Tamò, M., Dannon, E., Datinon, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural practices; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Borers; Chemical pest control; Cowpeas; Entomology; Flowers; Insecticides; Integrated pest management; Life Sciences; Maruca vitrata; Neem; Original Research Article; Pest control; Pesticides; Populations; Rainy season; Row spacing; Savannahs; Variance analysis; Vigna unguiculata
• ISSN: 1742-7592; 1742-7584; 1742-7592
• DOI: 10.1007/s42690-021-00576-7

A combination of intra-row spacing, sowing date, and pesticides on M. vitrata was carried out during the rainy seasons of 2015 and 2016 respectively in Katsina, towards developing an integrated pest management on cowpea. The experiment was laid out using split-split plot design. Intra-row spacing and sowing date were respectively allocated to the main and sub-plots while pesticides consisting of biopesticides, neem kernel seed extract (NKE), Maruca vitrata Multi-Nucleopolyhedrosis (MaviMNPV) viral suspension and a synthetic insecticide (Cyper diforce) were allocated to the sub-sub-plot. The treatments were randomized and replicated three times. Data collected were subjected to the analysis of variance and means were separated using LSD at 5%. The result showed that varying cowpea sowing from 2nd July significantly reduced pod borer populations in flowers in all the samplings. The lowest means were recorded in cowpea sown on the 13th August. The effect of pesticides showed that plots treated with either of the pesticide significantly recorded lower mean populations of M. vitrata compared with the control. However, their effects were statistically similar. Varying sowing dates was also observed to record lower mean populations of M. vitrata in cowpea pods sampled 10 weeks after sowing (WAS). The result of the combined analysis showed that cowpea sown on the 2nd July significantly record higher population means and the least was obtained in cowpea sown on the 13th August respectively. The effect among pesticides was statistically similar. However, plots treated with NKE recorded lower mean populations of M. vitrata. Therefore, it is recommended that varying cowpea sowing and use of pesticides intervention will reduce M. vitrata population on cowpea and consequently reduce cowpea damage in the study area.