A comparative evaluation of effect of carbofuran 5G, chlorpyrifos 20Ec and chilli pepper aqueous extract on the growth, fruit yield and control of Podagrica uniformis of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. moench) in Enugu, Southeastern Nigeria

A field experiment to comparatively evaluate the effect of carbofuran 5G, chlorpyrifos 20Ec and chilli pepper aqueous extract on the growth, yield and control of insect pest of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, southeastern Nigeria during the 2017 rainy season between the months of April and October. The experimental design was randomized complete block (RCB) with four (4) treatments replicated five (5) times. Parameters assessed were plant height(cm), number of feeding holes created by leaf beetles (Podagrica uniformis) per plant, number of flowers per plant, number of fruits per plant, leaf area index and fruit yield (t ha-1). The result of the experiment showed a significant (p<0.05) treatment effect on all the parameters measured/assessed except leaf area index. Plots treated with carbofuran 5G recorded highest on all the parameters assessed except number of feeding holes created by P.uniformis per plant as follows; mean plant height of 45.45 cm, mean number of 4.20 fruits per plant, mean leaf area index of 4.18, mean number of 48.60 feeding holes created by Podagrica per plant and mean fruit yield of 1.79 t ha-1.The efficacy of Chilli pepper aqueous extract (bio-insecticide) in the control of a major insect pest (Podagrica uniformis), growth and yield of okra did not significantly differ from that of chlorpyrifos 20Ec (Synthetic insecticide), the use of Chilli pepper aqueous extract to okra producers in Enugu area is therefore recommend as a better substitute to synthetic insecticide.