Abstract

Efficacy of using spinctor dust as a Bio-insecticide in the organic control of maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) at three levels; 0.25g, 0.50g, 1.00g and 0.00g (control) using 20g of clean maize seeds each was investigated in the Soil Science Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, Bayero University, Kano. The experiment was laid out in a Complete Design, replicated four times. A maize variety Sammaz-2 was used as the test crop. Data were collected on mortality of S. zeamaisand damage weight loss of the stored maize seeds. Treatments were found to significantly affect the rate of mortality of weevils at all the doses of spinctor dust (0.25g/20g seeds, 0.50g/20g seeds and 1.00g/20g seeds) after 36 hours of exposure. There was also significant weight loss in the untreated seeds (control) and no significant weight loss recorded in the treated seeds (P < 0.05).

Key words: Bio-insecticide; Organic; Spinctor dust; Maize seeds; Storage; Weevil