Insecticide Application Schedule to Control Sesame Webworm Antigastra catalaunalis (Duponchel) Humera, North Ethiopia
Zenawi Gebregergis *
Department of Crop, Humera Agricultural Research Center (HuARC) P.O.Box 62, Ethiopia
Dereje Assefa
Department of Crop and Horticultural Science, Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Ibrahim Fitwy
Department of Crop and Horticultural Science, Mekelle University, Ethiopia
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Sesame webworm (Antigastra catalaunalis) is the major pest, which is causing heavy losses in Humera areas, northern Ethiopia. The present study aims to determine schedule of insecticide application for control of the pest. An experiment with a randomized complete block design (RCBD) was conducted at Humera Agricultural Research Center to evaluate nine insecticide application schedules. Result of the experiment indicated that weekly spray (S9) resulted in lower webworm incidence (19.5%) and better grain yield (536.6 kg/ha); and highest incidence (99.27%) and lowest grain yield (154.9 kg/ha) was recorded from control. Maximum level of leaf and flower was scored on control and once sprayed plots, while the lowest was on the frequently sprayed. In conclusion, twice application of insecticide at 2 and 4 weeks after emergence was found better for controlling A. catalaunalis.
Keywords: A. catalaunalis, Sesamum indicum, insecticide schedule, incidence, capsule damage