Efficacy of Mosquito Netting for Sustainable Small Holders’ Cabbage Production in Africa

Abstract

The efficacy of a mosquito netting to protect cabbages, Brassica oleracea L., against pests was investigated in field trials in Benin, West Africa. A polyester net covered the plants at night by using a wood armature. The net was removed during the day to prevent overheating and excessive shade, both problems of insect-proof screens used under tropical conditions. The number of all lepidopteran larvae with netting protection and foliar insecticide sprays was significantly lower than the unprotected control. The number of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), was significantly lower with netting protection compared with foliar insecticide sprays and control. Netting treated with deltamethrin gave total protection of young plants against the aphid Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach). At harvest, the number of marketable cabbages protected with untreated netting was significantly higher compared with the production with foliar insecticide sprays. The protection of cabbages with netting can be an economically viable method. Considering the price of cabbages on local markets (US dollars 1/unit), the net returns per 100 m2 were US dollars 247 by using netting, US dollars 149 by using insecticides, and US dollars 117 for controls. The net returns for using netting are based on replacing the netting each crop cycle. But netting can be reused several times, depending upon conditions, increasing the profit margin. The netting protection may be an alternative to the growing unsustainable practices of vegetable cropping in peri-urban areas of tropical countries.

Deltamethrin-Incorporated Nets as an Integrated Pest Management Tool for the Invasive Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

“…In particular, pyrethroidincorporated nets applied as floating row covers, or 2-m high fences, have been shown to be efficacious for control of various lepidopteran and aphid pests of vegetables (Martin et al 2006, Licciardi et al 2008, Dader et al 2015, and are considered to be costeffective because they control multiple key pests, last multiple years, and because larger mesh sizes can be used compared with untreated row covers (Dader et al 2015). To our knowledge, the efficacy of LLINs for control of pestiferous stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) has not been investigated.…”

Pesticide resistance in Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) populations from Togo and Benin

“…As reported from several tropical countries (Talekar and Shelton, 1993;Baek et al, 2005;Nyambo and Löhr, 2005;Ayalew, 2006;Odhiambo et al, 2010;Santos et al, 2011;Zhou et al, 2011;Legwaila et al, 2014), P. xylostella populations from Togo and Benin also appear to be resistant to a number of insecticides commonly used in different agroecosystems (Goudegnon et al, 2000;Martin et al, 2006;Godonou et al, 2009;Agboyi et al, 2013). As a reaction to this phenomenon, cabbage producers have entered the vicious circle of increasing both insecticide dosage rates and spraying frequencies (Ahouangninou et al, 2012), which can lead to environmental and health hazards (Pimentel et al, 1997;Gallivan et al, 2001).…”

“…Cotonou is a coastal city with easy access to cheap pesticides imported from neighbouring countries compared to Kara and Dapaong in Northern Togo where insecticides are less accessible. Martin et al (2006) had reported pyrethroid resistance in field populations of P. xylostella in Cotonou, but without carrying out any toxicological studies to confirm the resistance. In urban and peri-urban vegetable cultivation areas around Cotonou, cabbage producers apply insecticides, especially pyrethroids and organophosphates, every 3 to 4 days within a 3-month period before harvesting (James et al, 2010), thereby inducing a high selection pressure.…”

“…Application of synthetic insecticides remains the most common control strategy (Grzywacz et al, Pesticide resistance in Plutella xylostella 205 2010). In Togo and Benin, cabbage yield losses have been reported to exceed 30% despite frequent applications of synthetic insecticides (Martin et al, 2006;Agboyi et al, 2013), predominantly organophosphates and pyrethroids (Ahouangninou et al, 2012;Agboyi et al, 2015).…”

Budidaya Kubis di Dalam Rumah Kasa Dalam Upaya Menekan Serangan Hama

“…Sementara menurut Simon et al (2014) populasi P. xylostella dan Helulla undalis sangat tertekan pada budidaya kubis di dalam rumah kasa. Menurut Martin et al (2006), penggunaan rumah kasa mampu mengurangi infestasi H. undalis dan P. xylostella masing-masing sebesar 88% dan 78% serta mengurangi aplikasi pestisida sebanyak 3-10 kali.…”