TY  - JOUR
T1  - Field Evaluation of Neem (<I>Azadirachta indica</I> A. Juss) Products for the Management of Lepidopterous Stem Borers of Maize (<I>Zea mays</I> L.) in Calabar, Nigeria
AU - , D.A. Ukeh AU - , S.O. Emosairue AU - , I.A. Udo AU - , U.A. Ofem 
JO  - Research Journal of Applied Sciences
VL  - 2
IS  - 6
SP  - 653
EP  - 658
PY  - 2007
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1815-932x
DO  - rjasci.2007.653.658
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjasci.2007.653.658
KW  - Busseola fusca
KW  -Sesamia calamistis
KW  -crude neem oil
KW  -neem seed kernel extract
KW  -azadirachtin
KW  -maize
AB  - Stem borers are the most important field insect pests of maize in the Calabar humid environment of southern Nigeria. Field experiments were conducted in April-July 2004 and 2005 to evaluate the efficacy of neem products for the management of <I>Busseola fusca</I> and <I>Sesamia calamistis</I> in maize plots. Five treatments namely; 3% Crude Neem Oil (3% CNO), 5% CNO, 3% Neem Seed Kernel Extract (3% NSKE), 5% NSKE and the untreated (control) were laid out in the randomized complete block design and replicated 5 times. The experiments showed that there were significant differences (p< 0.05) between neem-treated and the untreated plots in terms of grain yield and the mean number of stem borer larvae per plant. In 2004, the mean grain weight per plant (g) was 3% CNO (65.21), 5% CNO (72.16), 3% NSKE (67.44), 5% NSKE (74.41) and the untreated (45.15). During the 2005 trial, grain weights per plant were; 3% CNO (83.25), 5% CNO (77.82), 3% NSKE (77.57), 5% NSKE (82.6) and the untreated plots (46.15). In 2004, <I>B. fusca</I> had the least larval density per plant of 2.48 in 5% CNO and the highest density of 9.09 in the untreated, while <I>S. calamistis</I> had the least larval colonization of 2.33 in 5% CNO and 7.56 in the untreated plots. And in 2005, the least borer infestation of 2.32 and 2.15 per plant of <I>B. fusca</I> and <I>S.calamistis</I> were obtained from 5% CNO treated plots, respectively. Therefore, neem products offer desirable alternatives to using synthetic chemicals in agricultural systems where protection of the environment and preservation of beneficial organisms are important.
ER  -