Control of cabbage caterpillars (Plutella xylostella L.), (Chrisodeixis eriosoma) and (Spodoptera litura) with aqueous plant extracts in organic farming

Abstract

The application of botanical insecticides is one of the alternative ways to reduce the use of harmful insecticides in agricultural pest management. The aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica seed kernel, Lasiosiphon eriocepalzcs leaves and bark, Ocimum sanctum leaves, Allium sativum bulbs, and Cinnamomum zeylanicum leaf oil extract effluent were investigated for efficacy in the management of three major leaf eating caterpillars (Plutella xylostella (L.), Chrisodeixis eriosoma (Doubleday), and Spodoptera litura (Fabricius)) of cabbage at the organic farm site in Regional Agricultural Research centre, Bandarawela. The results revealed that in both seasons (Yala 2006 & Maha 2006/2007) caterpillar population was reduced significantly in plant extract treated plots compared with untreated control. A. indica seed kernel was the superior plant extract and comparatively lowest larval population was recorded in this treatment. However, plant extracts other than O. sanctum also recorded low pest population without significant difference with A. indica.