Podagrica Uniforma and Nisota dilecta (Coleoptera: Chrysomalidae) Infesta-tion on Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i>) in Response to Nutrient Sources

Abstract

<strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>The ability of a plant to resist or tolerate pests is grounded partially in favorable physical, chemical and biological properties of soil.<br /> <strong>OBJECTIVES: </strong>Investigate the influence of nutrient sources on <em>Podagrica uniforma</em> and <em>Nisota dilecta</em> infestation, population dynamics and performances of okra.<br /> <strong>METHODS: </strong>The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design with 4 treatments (5 t.ha^-1 poultry manure, 5 t.ha^-1 pig manure, 5 t.ha^-1 cattle manure and control (no manure), replicated three times. <em>P. uniforma</em> and <em>N. dilecta</em> (Coleoptera: Chrysomalidae) infestation on okra in respond to nutrient sources application were investigated at the Teaching and Research Farm of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria during 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons.<br /> <strong>RESULT: </strong>The experiment showed that pig manure recorded the lowest amount of defoliation (17.0 ± 6.15 and 8.66 ± 2.62) in both planting season, it also recorded a low number of fruits in 2015 and 2016 planting season (3.00 ± 3.46 and 2.11 ± 1.92) and fruit weight (21.04 ± 26.37 and 12.26 ± 10.52) respectively. The highest yield (number of fruits) was recorded in poultry manure in 2015 (6.00 ± 3.61) and control in 2016 (4.66 ± 4.25), the highest fruit weight was recorded in control plot in both planting seasons (61.75 ± 52.00 and 43.04 ± 40.36). Poultry manure recorded moderate amount of defoliation (19.73 ± 21.42 and 9.57 ± 3.10) along the season. Also poultry manure record moderate amount of defoliation also record the highest number of yield (3.58 ± 3.52) when compared to other treatment (pig, cattle and control). It was concluded that poultry manure is best suitable for the production of okra.<br /> <strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Both pig and poultry manure are best for controlling <em>P. uniforma </em>and <em>N. dilecta </em>infestation on okra as they both show greater tolerant and compensatory ability and thus recommended for the management and suppression of <em>P. uniforma </em>and <em>N. dilecta</em> population in studied area.