Agrica

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is the only crop cultivated in Sri Lanka for sugar manufacture. Majority pest of sugarcane are insects, and approximately 103 insect’s species were recorded in Sri Lanka. Sugarcane Wooly Aphid (SWA) is one of the major sucking pests in sugarcane industry. Both adults and nymphs of SWA damage to the sugarcane plant. Although, the synthetic insecticides are effective to the controlSWA, it is not popular in Sri Lanka. Ethanol plant extracts were found more effective, but it is not practical in farmer level. An experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of using plant extract obtain through the fermentation for the SWA as an eco-friendly and economically profitable pest management technique to use in farmer level. Three different plant extract types (Aques, Ethanol, Fermented) of Neem (Seed and Leaf) were used for the experiment and determined the LC₅₀ values, effective time and effective concentrations for the different plant extracts. All the mortality data calculated at 6 hr, 12 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr and 72 hr time periods. Using mortality percentage calculated the LC₅₀ values, effective time and concentration for each plant extracts. Lowest LC₅₀ values were recorded in ethanol extract and highest value recorded in aques extract. Potency of order was LC₅₀ Values of aques >LC₅₀ Values of fermented > LC₅₀ Values of ethanol extracts. Effective time treatment combinations for fermented and ethanol Neem leaf and seed extracts were same (Seed extracts: 30% at 48hr, Leaf extracts: 45% at 48 hr). Fermented Neem extracts have a good potential to use in management of SWA in sugarcane with further evaluation.