Field experiments were conducted at faculty of Agriculture teaching and research farm, university of Maiduguri in 2010 and 2011 rainy seasons. The aim was to investigate the impact of intercropping sorghum with okra on the incidence of flea beetle of okra (Podagrica spp) in the semiArid zone of Nigeria. The results showed that sole crop okra suffered flea beetle attack which affected its growth, fruit formation, fruit weights and fruit yield. Intercropping okra with sorghum significantly reduced the flea beetle populations, leaf damage caused by Podagrica spp (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). While increasing number of leaves for photosynthetic activities, plant height, fruit formation, fresh fruit weight and total fruit yield. The study concluded that okra intercropping at 1:1, 1:2 and 2:2 are the most efficient and productive intercrop systems in flea beetle management. Okra intercropping with cereal sorghum was found to be good for sustainable agriculture and organic farming in Nigeria due to its numerous advantages, particularly with respect to insect pests' control.

The experiment was conducted to investigate the economic impacts of fungi seed-borne pathogens and cowpea grain weevil (Callosobruchus naculatus (Fab.) BRUCHIDAE COLEOPTERA) on stored cowpea grains which include kananado, Biu-Fari, Bornoji, Kirikiri Banjara jaa, Warware-Bashi, Bonjera and Rangen. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD) in the Crop Protection Laboratory, University of Maiduguri. Blotter's paper seed plating and Agar methods were adopted for the purpose of the investigation. Each cowpea sample were surface sterilized with 10% Sodium hypochlorite for 1-2 minutes and rinsed thrice with sterile distilled water. Ten (10) surface sterilized seeds were aseptically plated per moistened Petri-dishes using a sterilized forceps and incubated at temperature of 21±2 0 C for 7 days. Results showed that there were significant differences (P≤0.05) on germination percentage, 1000 seed weight (g) and disease incidence among the Cowpea variety seeds tested. Higher germination percentage were observed among Kanannado and Bornoji, while Wareware-Bashi had the lowest from 24 to 120 hours after plating (HAP) compared to other Cowpea varieties respectively. Biu-Fari significantly recorded the highest 1000 seed weight and the highest disease incidence from 72 to 120 (HAP). Bornoji recorded the lowest disease incidence from 24 to 120 (HAP) compare to other varieties respectively. Fungal isolates which include Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Mucor racemosus and Trichoderma harzianum were isolated from the infected cowpea seeds and identified. The isolates colony pure culture on Potato Dextrose Ager (PDA) were greenish (Aspergillus flavus), black to dark brown (Aspergillus niger), whitish (Mucur recemoses) and light yellowish (Trichoderma harzianum) respectively Disease causing pathogens posed a dangerous health threat and perforation inflicted on the grains by the weevils can lower the market value. Hence, proper seed handling, disease monitoring and safe storage environmental conditions become very necessary in order to prevent seed damage and contamination by the fungal pathogens and C. maculatus.

Field experiments were conducted at faculty of Agriculture teaching and research farm, university of Maiduguri in 2010 and 2011 rainy seasons. The aim was to investigate the impact of intercropping sorghum with okra on the incidence of flea beetle of okra (Podagrica spp) in the semi-Arid zone of Nigeria. The results showed that sole crop okra suffered flea beetle attack which affected its growth, fruit formation, fruit weights and fruit yield. Intercropping okra with sorghum significantly reduced the flea beetle populations, leaf damage caused by Podagrica spp (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). While increasing number of leaves for photosynthetic activities, plant height, fruit formation, fresh fruit weight and total fruit yield. The study concluded that okra intercropping at 1:1, 1:2 and 2:2 are the most efficient and productive intercrop systems in flea beetle management. Okra intercropping with cereal sorghum was found to be good for sustainable agriculture and organic farming in Nigeria due to its numerous advantages, particularly with respect to insect pests’ control.

Field experiments were conducted to assess the effect of time