Wood ash as a biopesticide in repelling insect pests in spinacia oleraceae (spinach)

Abstract

The study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of wood ash for the control of insect pests infesting spinach plants. The plants were sown in a completely randomized block design with four replications. Treatment application started immediately after germination and continued on 3 days interval. Parameters observed were number of damages and number of insect infestation. These were noted after 4 and 5 weeks of germination. Data collected was analyzed using R statistical software package version 4.21. The results revealed that there was a significant difference (P>0.05) in the number of damages as well as number of insect pests encountered. Wood ash proved to be effective in protecting the vegetables against insect pests, since it recorded significant minimum activities of insect pests. Therefore, botanicals such wood ash could be considered as an effective in alternative method of pest management. The use of biopesticides generally is encouraged since they can proffer solution of controlling insect pest without any environmental concern.