Efficacy of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Lambda-cyhalothrin on Insect Pest Infestation and Performance of Okra in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Okra, an economically important vegetable crop with numerous benefits to human, is often attacked by large number of insect species. These insect species cause direct damage to okra plants and also serve as vectors of diseases resulting in economic loss. Control of these insect pests given reducing hunger and poverty, and fostering agricultural ecosystems becomes imperative. This study aimed at the use of indigenous medicinal plant and a sub-lethal dose of synthetic insecticide to check the invasion of pests and performance of okra. The field laid in a randomized complete block design of four treatments replicated three times. The treatments included; Curcuma longa 5%, Curcuma longa 20%, lambda-cyhalothrin, and a control. Data were collected on insect pest species recovered after treatment application and yield of okra. All data were subjected to analysis of variance and differences between the treatment means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test. C. longa (20%) compared effectively with the sub-lethal dose of lambdacyhalothin (0.5 ml/l) in their attack against the targeted pests. Although higher number and weight of pods were harvested from synthetically treated plots, the C. longa treated plots produced significantly higher number and weight of harvested pods when compared with untreated plots. Water extract of the rhizomes also conferred some protection against okra pests; we recommend that farmers in Ekiti State adopt this botanical against the notorious flea beetles especially when the profits accrue from okra sales outweigh their net investment.