African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6832

Article in Press

CONTROLLING THE DIAMONDBACK MOTH (Xyostella pluttela) BY INTERCROPPING RAPE (Brassica napus) AND GALIC (Allium sativum)

EZEKIA SVOTWA, DENIS CHABIKWA, RUMBIDZAI DEBRA KATSARUWARE

  •  Received: 13 February 2017
  •  Accepted: 20 June 2017
Cultural methods such as intercropping can be applied to manage insect pests and reduce the problems caused by use of pesticides. An experiment was carried out in Ward 1 of Hurungwe District, in Zimbabwe at Muchbinding Farm to investigate the management of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) in Rape (Brassica napus) by intercropping rape with garlic (Allium sativum). A randomized complete block design with four treatments, replicated four times was used. The four treatments were: untreated sole rape (control) Malathion 25WP treated sole rape, 2:3 garlic/ rape intercrop and 1:4 garlic/ rape intercrop. Diamond backmoth larva count/ leaf, adult count/ leaf, leaf damage and rape yield were assessed and the results were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The larva and adult moth counts as well as the leaf damage score were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in untreated sole rape crop than in the Malathion 25 WP and the 1:4 garlic/ rape and the 2:3 garlic/ rape intercrop. The 1:4 garlic/ rape intercrop and the 2:3 garlic/ rape intercrop had similar (p > 0.05) larva and adults counts/ plants as well as leaf damage scores. Rape yield in the 1:4 garlic-rapes and the 2:3 garlic/ rape intercrop was similar (p > 0.05) to that for the Malathion treated sole rape, and all the treated plots had significantly higher yield (p < 0.05) than the untreated sole rape crop. The 1:4 garlic/ rape and the 2:3 garlic/ rape intercrop were comparable with standard Malathion in reducing diamond back moth infestation and damage in rape. The practice of intercropping garlic with rape can be recommended for managing diamond back moth infestation in rape and, hence, can reduce the problems caused by indiscriminate use of pesticides.

Keywords: intercropping organic pesticides garlic/rape intercrops Diamond-back moth leaf damage yield