International Journal of Advanced Scientific Research

Authors
Sisay Kidanu Demmirew, Tariku Tesfaye Edosa, Efrem Asfaw Gutema

Abstract
The research was aimed to study the efficacy of botanicals and physical methods to manage storage insect pests of maize. The efficacy of two botanicals abeyi seed (Maesa lanceolata) and bekenisa leaf (Croton macrostachyus), both at 5% (w/w), teff (Eragrostis teff) admixture 50% (w/w), exposing maize grain to sun heat by black polyethylene sheet were evaluated to manage maize storage insect pests. The exposure of grain to sun heat using black polyethylene sheet caused the highest mortality of both maize weevil and Angoumois moth. Teff admixture constantly caused mortality of weevils and Angoumois moth through the experimental period. During the early stage, the botanicals were also equally performed mortality. All treatments reduced the grain damage and weight loss compared to the untreated check thereby, improved the seed germination compared the untreated check. However, the highest seed germination was recorded under the grain treated by teff admixture and the black polyethylene sheet. Finally, we concluded that solar heat, teff admixture as well as botanical plants are the potential and safe management options to control of maize storage insect pests, suggesting further investigation to extract the potential compound from these botanicals and test their efficacy for the future formulation of safe pesticides.