Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 46: 3113 - 3119. Published October 28, 2011.
Influence of onion planting date on Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) larvae population in Northern Burkina Faso
SORO Senan1, 2*, DOUMBIA Mamadou1, YEBOUE N’guessan Lucie1, DAO Daouda2, 3 and TANO Yao3
1 Université d’ABOBO-ADJAME Abidjan, UFR des Sciences de la Nature, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire ; 2 Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire. 01 BP 1303 Abidjan 01; 3 Université de COCODY- ABIDJAN, 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22
*Corresponding author email: senan.soro@csrs.ciABSTRACT
Objective: Onion is the main vegetable produced in Northern Burkina Faso. Since 2005, the prices have increased over threefold leading to an increase in production areas and the number of annual cycles. The intensified production has led to invasion of the crop by Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner 1808) larvae, which is the main insect pest in the area. The aim of this study was to impede the invasion of H. armigera larvae, focusing on the effect of farming period and the locality of production.
Methodology and results: A survey was carried out in twenty peasants’ farms in 4 localities from September to December 2010Data were collected by counting the larvae found on the onion fronds. The number H. armigera larvae revealed that the proliferation was more intense in the plantations during September as compared to December. Similarly, the average weight of the bulbs and the yields depended on the number of larvae and the date of planting. The yields were 19 t.ha-1 versus 30 t.ha-1 for the plantations established in September and December, respectively.
Conclusion and application of results: Based on the results, a month long period of dead vegetation (plants) before planting is useful to allow a reduction in the number of fertile adults of H. armigera after the end of the cereal cycle.
Key words: Burkina Faso, Onion, Helicoverpa armigera, larvae.
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