Determination of Effective Rates of Concentration and Frequencies of Birbira (Milletia ferruginea. Hochst. Baker) application for the Management of Potato Tuber Moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) on Potato (Solanum tuberosum. L.) Under Field Condition

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Date

2017-04

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Globally, Potato is one of the most important crops in terms of production as well as consumption and ranks first among root and tuber crops followed by cassava, sweet potato and yams. After the introduction of potato to Ethiopia higher production and productivity were achieved due to its good climate and edaphic conditions. However, the average production is low when compared to Africa and World potato production. This is due to several biotic and abiotic constraints. Among the biotic constraints, potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller)) is one of the major constraints under field and storage conditions. To control this pest, farmers had been using chemical pesticide, which can cause problems on human health, environmentally unfriendly, and cost ineffective method. The current study is conducted to optimize the appropriate rate and frequency of Birbira (Milletia ferruginea) against PTM infestation on potato under field condition. Field trial was conducted at Holetta Agricultural Research Center during off-season in 2016. The experimental design was 2x3 RCBD with three replications. The treatment levels were three rates and two frequencies. The treatments include 0.23mg/mlx1, 0.23mg/mlx2, 0.33mg/mlx1, 0.33mg/mlx2, 0.43mg/mlx1, 0.43mg/mlx2, and untreated (check). The twice treatment applications were sprayed in two weeks interval. PTM infestation on different parts of potato was recorded at different potato growth stages. The parameters measured include infested and total number of leaves, petiole and stem. At harvest, total number of tubers and PTM infested tubers were recorded. Before treatment application, there was no significant difference on PTM infestation between all plots. After treatment application of birbira, at the current rate of concentration and time interval, only 0.23 gm/ml single application on leaf showed variation among the different rates of concentration but it did not show variation when compared to the untreated check. However, except 0.23 gm/ml, the rest of the rate of concentration used was not show significant variation (P<0.05) among treatments and the untreated check in terms of leaf, petiole, stem, and tuber infestation. In general results obtained from the current experiment showed that birbira is not effective against PTM under field condition. Key word: Birbira, Field condition, Potato, Potato tuber moth

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Keywords

Birbira, Field Condition, Potato, Potato Tuber Moth

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