Comparative Efficacy of Cypermethrin and Plant Extract in the Control of Cucumber Pests in Ado Ekiti, Southwestern Nigeria

Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) is widely cultivated and consumed in the tropics as a source of fruit vegetable for man due to its numerous health benefits. Attainable yield in the farmers farm is considerably low due to the problem of insect pest attack. Based on the above, experiment was conducted to investigate the efficacy of cypermethrin and three plant extracts (Datura stramonium, Ricinus communis and Sida acuta) in the control of insect pest associated with cucumber. Cucumber variety Cu 999 was planted on a 2 x 2 m at a spacing of 40cm x 40cm. three concentrations of the extracts was used in the control of the pest and cypermethrin insecticide was used as a standard check. The control plot in each case was sprayed with distilled water. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and means separated using least significant different at (p ≤ 0.05). Result from the study shows statistically significant variations. Eight insect pests belonging to different families were frequently observed on the cucumber. Incidence of normal fruits were generally higher than abnormal fruits at all the tested concentrations. At 65 % concentration with extracts of D. stranmonium, incidence of normal fruit (80.3 %) was not significantly different from that of cypermethrin insecticide (82.6 %). Yield of cucumber sprayer with 65% concentration of D. stramonium (250 kg/ha) was not significantly different from that of cypermethrin insecticide (254 kg/ha). The study concluded that extracts of the three plants can replace the synthetic insecticide in the management of the insect plant of cucumber with corresponding yield.