USE OF DIFFERENT CONTAINERS, INDIGENOUS MATERIALS AND CHEMICALS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF INSECT PESTS OF WHEAT IN STORAGE

Abstract

'[he present study on the use of containers, indigenous materials and chemicals lbr the management of insect pests of wheat in storage was conducted in the laboratory of the Department of Rntomology. Slier-c- Rarigla Agricultural University (SAU). Ohaka during April 2006 to November 2006. The experiment was laid out in Factorial RCBD having two factors with three replications. Four types of' containers such as tin kouta. earthen pot. plastic container and gunny bag were considered as one Ihctor and different indigenous materials and chemicals such as neem leaf powder, sand, camphor, naphthelene and an untreated control were considered as another factor. Three insect pests such as grain moth (Sitotroga cerea/ella), red flour beetle (Triboliwn castaneum), and rice weevil (Sitophilus oiyzae) were found to attack wheat grain during the study period. Among them grain moth population was initially higher but the population of red flour beetle was always higher than rice weevil. The plastic container and tin kouta showed the best performance in protecting the wheat from attack of different insect pests while, gunny hag was less effective. Among the materials, naphthalenc showed the percentage of grain infestation (11.23-46.36%) was recorded from gunny bag and in combination with different materials. The lowest percent grain infestation (7.2526.30%) was recorded from plastic container in combination with naphthclene. The percent grain infestation fluctuated with temperature and relative humidity and the percent grain infestation (7.25-26.30%) was low in June atIer 2 months of storage and gradually increased to a peak in September 2006. A range of 100% - 86.67% of germination of wheat seed was observed in the treatments, tin kouta + necni leaf powder. plastic container + camphor and plastic container + nccm leaf powder. The lowest percentage (66.67-73.33%) of wheat seed germination was observed in the gunny bag ± neem leaf powder and gunny bag sole. Plastic container and tin kouta in combination with naphthelene provided maximum (86.73%) germination of wheat seed after six months of storage.