The effect of intercropping okra with ginger on the population of flea beetle (Podagrica sjostedti Jacoby Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genn Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and the yield of okra in Umudike Abia State, Nigeria

The effect of intercropping okra with ginger on the population of flea beetle (Podagrica sjostedti Jacoby Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genn Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and the yield of okra in Umudike Abia State, Nigeria

2012

E10693

Okra is an annual commercial vegetable crop grown in warm climates. Insect pests are one of the limiting factors to profitable production of Okra. A field experiment to determine the effect of Ginger-Okra intercropping in controlling the major field pests of Okra in Umudike, Nigeria was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Ginger was intercropped with three varieties of Okra (TAE38, V35, and NH47-4). NPK 20:10:10 and 15:15:15 fertilizers were applied to Ginger and Okra respectively in ring form. Results showed that intercropping Ginger with Okra had significant (P<=0.05) decrease on the population of Bemisia tabaci. The intercrop significantly (P<=0.05) reduced the population of Podagrica sjostedti at 49 Days after Germination (DAG). Furthermore, the Okra varieties intercropped with Ginger recorded a significantly (P<=0.05) higher yield than the sole Okra which recorded 52.4 g. V35 Okra variety intercropped with Ginger recorded the highest yield (86 g).

3(3):300-304, JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

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