1Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Bako National Maize Research Coordinating Centre, P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Email: udaiswami57@gmail.com
Department of Entomology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, 313001
Online published on 3 November, 2015.
Fly ash, rice husk ash, cow-dung cake ash and diatomaceous earth each applied at two rates as postharvest grain protectants were evaluated for their insecticidal potency against Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella, attacking stored maize during May 2013 to February 2014. Diatomaceous earth and rice husk ash were the most effective. The diatomaceous earth at all its application rates of 0.5 and 1.0% w/w of grains showed the minimum days (5.0) to achieve >80% mortality. This also resulted in lowest number (13.83) of F1 adults emerged, maximum percentage (>70%) mortality of F1 progenies, maximum inhibition (>90%) of F1 progenies, minimum grain damage (<2%) and minimum weight loss (<1%) similar to the standard check without affecting seed germination followed by rice husk ash. However, higher rate of cow-dung ash gave better control while fly ash at all its application rates and lower rate of cow-dung cake ash were less effective. Therefore, diatomaceous earth, rice husk ash and higher rate of cow-dung ash are considered as potential components of an integrated pest management strategy against S. cerealella in stored maize.
Inert dusts, diatomaceous earth, IPM, ash, Sitotroga cerealella
