Evaluation of the Efficacy of Plant Powders, Cow Dung Ash and Malathion Dust against Callosobruchus Chinensis L. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) On Chickpea in Jole Andegna: Southern Ethiopia

Callosobruchus chinensis is one of the major insect pest of chickpea and other stored legume which is known to cause significant yield loss both quantitatively and qualitatively. This investigation was done to study the efficacy of leaf powders of basil (Ocimu basilica L.) and neem (Azadirachta indica), cow dung ash and Malathion dust against bruchid on two chickpea varieties namely Desi (local) and Habru (improved Kabuli). Levels of infestation, weight loss, germination capacity (delete) and germination of the seeds were evaluated monthly up to six months. In the bruchid infested treatment (control), hundred seeds weight, seed germination decreased through time while levels of infestation and weight loss increased. All the tested locally available treatments (cow dung ash, leaf powder of neem and leaf powder of basil) were found to be effective in reducing the damage inflicted by bruchid compared to the control. Malathion dust was observed to be the most effective of all treatment in this study. However, looking in to the side effects of synthetic pesticides, we suggest that the locally available plant powders and cow dung ash which is cheap, ecologically friendly and non-hazardous to human health can play an important role in protection of chickpea during storage against invasion by bruchid.