COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF BOTANICAL EXTRACTS AND SYNTHETIC INSECTICIDES AGAINST KEY ARTHROPOD PESTS OF GRAPEVINES (VITIS VINIFERA L.) AND THEIR IMPACT ON YIELD
Abstract
The efficacy of four biopesticides comprised of various botanical extracts was determined in the field against major insect pests of grapes, which included mealybug, mites, and whitefly. The treatments included extracts of neem (Azadirachta indica), Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), Akk (Calotropis procera Alton. F.) and chemical control (Malathion), while their efficacy was compared with untreated control was also maintained. Based on efficacy, chemical control ranked 1st, neem extract 2nd, tobacco extract 3rd, and Akk extract 4th against all the insects monitored during this study. After the first spray against mealybugs, the chemical control reduced insect infestation from 10.09 to 1.91/plant, neem extract from 10.39 to 3.79/plant, tobacco extract from 10.58 to 4.34/plant, and Akk extract from 10.71 to 4.47/plant. After the second spray, the chemical control reduced mealybugs from 7.71 to 0.66/plant, neem extract from 7.29 to 2.40/plant, tobacco extract from 7.72 to 2.87/plant, and Akk extract from 7.02 to 2.84/plant. Against mites on grapes, after the first spray against mites, the chemical control reduced insect infestation from 13.43 to 1.59/plant, neem extract from 13.52 to 4.30/plant, tobacco extract from 14.19 to 5.44/plant, and Akk extract from 14.69 to 5.73/plant. After the second spray, the chemical control reduced mites from 9.44 to 0.52/plant, neem extract from 9.84 to 3.22/plant, tobacco extract from 10.12 to 4.04/plant, and Akk extract from 10.46 to 4.78/plant. Against whitefly on grapes, after the first spray against whitefly, the chemical control reduced insect infestation from 6.94 to 0.00/plant, neem extract from 6.46 to 2.51/plant, tobacco extract from 5.97 to 2.41/plant, and Akk extract from 6.40 to 2.67/plant; with overall efficacy of 10.00, 61.11, 59.68 and 58.27%, respectively. After the second spray, the chemical control reduced whitefly from 5.33 to 0.33/plant, neem extract from 4.43 to 1.56/plant, tobacco extract from 4.41 to 1.67/plant, and Akk extract from 5.14 to 2.05/plant. Chemical control (Malathion) and neem extract showed superior efficacy in combating all the insect pests studied in grapes, followed by tobacco and Akk extract, which remained the least effective. Maximum grape yield (20.00 kg/plot) was recorded when the chemical control (Malathion) was sprayed in the plot, followed by 18.72 and 14.08 kg/plot under neem extract- and tobacco extract-treated plots, respectively. Minimum grape yield (10.21 kg/plot) was observed when sprayed with Akk extracts.
Keywords
- Biopesticides, Grapes, Neem Extract, Mealybug, Mites, Whitefly, Pest Management.
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