Comparative Effects of Piper guineense Emulsion and Cabbage-Tomato Intercropping for Controlling Cabbage Pests and Improving Performance
Clovis B. Tanyi *
Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63 Buea, South West Region, Cameroon.
Christopher Ngosong
Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63 Buea, South West Region, Cameroon.
Nelson N. Ntonifor
Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63 Buea, South West Region, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: To improve cabbage production by controlling cabbage pests using locally produced organic pesticide and cabbage-tomato intercropping.
Methodology: Four treatments (control, cabbage-tomato intercropping, organic and synthetic pesticides) were evaluated for their potential to control cabbage pests and improve performance.
Results: Cabbage pest infestation correlated negatively with treatments (r = −0.95), ranging from 2–23 infested plants across treatments that differed (P = .001) significantly, with highest in control compared to other treatments (P = .05). Diamondback moth ranged from 1–10 per plant and differed (P = .001) significantly across treatments, with highest in control compared to other treatments (P = .05). Looper larvae correlated negatively with treatments (r = −0.62), ranging from 0–8 per plant and differed (P = .05) significantly across treatments, with highest in control compared to other treatments (P = .05). Snails ranged from 34–91 per treatment and differed (P = .001) significantly across treatments, with highest in control and lowest in organic compared to other treatments (P = .05). The number of sprouted cabbage plants ranged from 0–5 per treatment and differed (P = .001) significantly across treatments, with highest in control compared to other treatments (P = .05). Sprouted cabbage correlated negatively with treatments (r= −0.93) and correlated positively with pest infestation (r = 0.81), diamondback moth (r = 0.71) and looper (r= 0.58). Cabbage yield ranged from 3.2–6.0 t ha-1 and differed (P = .05) significantly across treatments with the lowest in control and highest in intercropping (P = .05). Cabbage yield correlated negatively with diamondback moth (r = −0.62), looper (r = −0.63) and sprouted cabbage (r = −0.62).
Conclusion: Piper emulsion and intercropping effectively controlled cabbage pests while intercropping additionally increased cabbage yield.
Keywords: Diamondback moth, looper, piper emulsion, snails, webworm