EFFECT OF SPRAYING FREQUENCY OF DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF SPOTLIGHT ON STEM BORER INFESTATION AND GRAIN YIELD OF PEARL MILLET (PENNISETUM GLAUCUM (L.) R. BR.)

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at the Leventis Foundation/Gombe State Agricultural Training School, Tumu, Gombe State of Nigeria during 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons. Five concentrations(0.0 l/ha, 0.5 l/ha, 1.0 l/ha, 1.5 l/ha and 2.0L/ ha) of spotlight were applied at three different frequencies (1, 2 and 3) on a plot size of 3.0m x 4.0 m replicated three times. Spotlight application frequency was allocated to main plots and concentrations were allocated to subplots. Insecticide application commenced at 4 weeks after germination till harvest period. The plot size was 3.0 m by 4.0 m(12m2) with 1.0 m space between plots and 2.0 m as alley to allow for field operations. The results obtained shows that pearl millet(SOSAT C-88) plants infestation by stem borer was significantly reduced during the study period. Spotlight sprayed three times at 1.5l/ha had proved to be effective and appropriate for reducing stemborer feeding on pearl millet growing points (leaf sheathes), stems, peduncles and found to improve the number of grains/panicle, panicle and grain weights. It is recommended that spotlight should be applied three times at 1.5 l/ha for stem borer protection on pearl millet.