Effects of Neem (Azadirachta indica) seed and Turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome extracts on aphids control, plant growth and yield in okra

Authors

  • Uzair Muhammad
  • Tariq Nawaz Khattak
  • Hazir Rahman
  • MK Daud
  • Waheed Murad
  • Azizullah Azizullah Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5073/JABFQ.2018.091.026

Abstract

The use of synthetic pesticides to control pests and increase crops yield is a common practice, but they cause several environmental and health problems. Therefore, there is a need to explore alternative approaches to reduce the sole dependence on synthetic pesticides. The present study was conducted to screen the extracts of Neem seed and Turmeric rhizome for pesticidal activities against okra pests (aphids). Experiments were conducted in field with four plots. One plot was kept as a control (unsprayed) and one was sprayed with synthetic pesticides, one with Neem seeds extract and one with Turmeric rhizome extract. The effect on number of pests, plant growth and yield was observed at regular intervals. A significant reduction in pests was recorded in all treatments as compared to the control. Neem seed extract was more effective than Turmeric rhizome extract as revealed by a 73% decrease in aphids by Neem extract in comparison to 54% by Turmeric extract after last application. Both the extracts were found to be more effective than the synthetic pesticides in controlling okra pests. Both the extracts had stimulatory effects on okra growth and yield. For example, the total yield of plots sprayed with Neem (53.3 kg plot-1) and Turmeric extract (47.7 kg plot-1) was higher than the yield of control plot (33.8 kg plot-1) and plot sprayed with synthetic pesticides (39 kg plot-1). It is concluded that Neem and Turmeric extracts can be used as alternative of synthetic pesticides for controlling pests attacks in okra.

Downloads

Published

2018-08-13

Issue

Vol. 91 (2018): Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality

Section

Article

License

From Volume 92 (2019) on, the content of the journal is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Any user is free to share and adapt (remix, transform, build upon) the content as long as the original publication is attributed (authors, title, year, journal, issue, pages) and any changes are labelled.

The copyright of the published work remains with the authors. If you want to use published content beyond what the CC-BY license permits, please contact the corresponding author, whose contact information can be found on the last page of the respective article. In case you want to reproduce content from older issues (before CC BY applied), please contact the corresponding author to ask for permission.