PROJECT PRESENTATION CONTROL OF PESTS INFESTATION IN CROP PRODUCTION BY GROUP ONE B (1B )

INTRODUCTION  Pests have been described as any organism that causes harm or injury to other organisms such as crops either on the field or at storage.  Some pests such as bees are important as pollination is concern but most such as stem borers, termites and aphids hinder the effectiveness of plants growth.

INTRODUCTION CONTINUED P ests infestation are the damages caused by pests. Pests infestation is one of the major problems in agricultural production in most developing countries including Ghana. Thus finding a remedy for pests and their infestations would be beneficial to Ghana as well as many countries.

EFFECTS OF PESTS INFESTATION Reduction in crop yield. Increase in cost of production. And some pests are vectors of plant diseases.

Reduction in quality of produce.

SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED PESTS

1.TERMITES

They are insects from the order Isoptera.

They causes serious structural damage to crops. Mango tree damaged by termites. Termites on a tree

CONTROLING TERMITES. CONTROLING TERMITES. Use of saline solution.

CONTROLING CONTINUES… Use of Dursban (Chlorpyrifos). Push and pull system; Using Imperata cylindrica (spear grass) as a trap crop. Early harvesting in terms of annual crops.

2. MAIZE STEMBORERS.

They are the larvae of several kinds of moths. They are serious pest of maize since they destroy the entire maize plant.

CONTROLING STEMBORERS. Crop rotation. Field sanitation including weeding and burning of plant residues after harvesting. Use of ash or soil or a mixture of both.

CONTROLING CONTINUED. USING WOOD ASH AND SOIL TO CONTROL STEMBORERS. Ash and soil should be used when maize plants are between 45 and 90 cm (1.5-3 feet) high. Sieve the ash or soil to remove larger particles, which could damage the plant. Take about a teaspoonful of the ash or soil and put it into the funnel made by new leaves. Do not use much

soil or ash as it can damage the plant. It is best to use the soil or ash before any sign of stem borer attack.  Push and pull system. Napier grass and desmodium can also be incorporated in maize farm to control stem borers as shown next.

Tobacco whitefly. African bollworm and cutworm. Flower beetle

MORE PESTS….. Podagrica spp.

CONTROL MEASURES. P ractice crop rotation. Use of parasite such as red ants to feed on larvae. Remove and burn crop residues. Use of pesticides such as Asana XL, Admire pro, Acramite 50W.

YEDA MOASE