[ Potentiel du basilic, du sorgho et du maïs comme plantes de service dans la gestion des insectes défoliateurs du Moringa au Niger ]
Volume 45, Issue 2, April 2025, Pages 357–370
Akonde Zinsou François-Xavier1, Ousmane Zakari Moussa2, and Iro Dan Guimbo3
1 Laboratoire de Zoologie agricole, Centre Régional Agrhymet, BP11011 Niamey, Niger
2 Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey, Faculté d’Agronomie, Niger
3 Département de Génie Rural et Eaux & Forêts, Faculté d’Agronomie, Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey, B.P. 10960 Niamey, Niger
Original language: French
Copyright © 2025 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
In Niger, moringa leaf production keeps market gardeners busy in most urban and peri-urban areas. The economic importance of moringa is well established, given the area planted, its virtues and its contribution to nutritional security and poverty reduction. However, in recent years, moringa productivity has fallen considerably due to the almost constant pressure of defoliating insects. Faced with this situation, growers are using unregistered chemicals of dubious origin, often hazardous to human health and the environment. This study aims to find alternative methods to chemical control, in particular by promoting agroecological management. The study was conducted in a Fisher block design with four (4) replications and four (4) treatments, where the potential of basil, sorghum and maize in the management of moringa defoliating insects was tested. Insect abundances and diversity indices were calculated and compared between treatments. Defoliation levels were determined by treatment. Analysis of the results showed that basil and sorghum reduced insect abundance by 7% and 5% respectively, and increased insect diversity by 8% and 13% respectively with the presence of natural enemies in the plots. Similarly, the results revealed the potential of basil and sorghum to very significantly (Pr = 0.0015) reduce defoliation by 36% and 34% respectively in moringa plots. Sorghum and basil may be better candidates for inclusion in the agroecological management of moringa defoliating insects.
Author Keywords: Moringa, basil, sorghum, maize, management, defoliator, Niger.
Volume 45, Issue 2, April 2025, Pages 357–370
Akonde Zinsou François-Xavier1, Ousmane Zakari Moussa2, and Iro Dan Guimbo3
1 Laboratoire de Zoologie agricole, Centre Régional Agrhymet, BP11011 Niamey, Niger
2 Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey, Faculté d’Agronomie, Niger
3 Département de Génie Rural et Eaux & Forêts, Faculté d’Agronomie, Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey, B.P. 10960 Niamey, Niger
Original language: French
Copyright © 2025 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
In Niger, moringa leaf production keeps market gardeners busy in most urban and peri-urban areas. The economic importance of moringa is well established, given the area planted, its virtues and its contribution to nutritional security and poverty reduction. However, in recent years, moringa productivity has fallen considerably due to the almost constant pressure of defoliating insects. Faced with this situation, growers are using unregistered chemicals of dubious origin, often hazardous to human health and the environment. This study aims to find alternative methods to chemical control, in particular by promoting agroecological management. The study was conducted in a Fisher block design with four (4) replications and four (4) treatments, where the potential of basil, sorghum and maize in the management of moringa defoliating insects was tested. Insect abundances and diversity indices were calculated and compared between treatments. Defoliation levels were determined by treatment. Analysis of the results showed that basil and sorghum reduced insect abundance by 7% and 5% respectively, and increased insect diversity by 8% and 13% respectively with the presence of natural enemies in the plots. Similarly, the results revealed the potential of basil and sorghum to very significantly (Pr = 0.0015) reduce defoliation by 36% and 34% respectively in moringa plots. Sorghum and basil may be better candidates for inclusion in the agroecological management of moringa defoliating insects.
Author Keywords: Moringa, basil, sorghum, maize, management, defoliator, Niger.
Abstract: (french)
Au Niger, la production de moringa feuille est une activité qui occupe les maraîchers dans la plupart des zones urbaines et péri-urbaines. L’importance économique du moringa n’est plus à démontrer eu égard aux superficies emblavées, à ses vertus, sa contribution à la sécurité nutritionnelle ainsi qu’à la lutte contre la pauvreté. Ces dernières années il a été constaté une baisse considérable de la productivité du moringa liée à la pression quasi permanente des insectes défoliateurs. Face à cette situation, les producteurs utilisent des produits chimiques d’origine douteuse non homologuée le plus souvent dangereux pour la santé humaine et l’environnement. La présente étude vise des méthodes alternatives à la lutte chimique notamment la promotion de la gestion agroécologique. L’étude a été conduite dans un dispositif en blocs de Fisher avec quatre (4) répétitions et quatre (4) traitements où le potentiel du basilic, du sorgho et du maïs dans la gestion des insectes défoliateurs du moringa a été testé. Les abondances et les indices de diversité des insectes ont été calculés et comparés entre les traitements. Les niveaux de défoliation ont été déterminés selon les traitements. L’analyse des résultats obtenus ont montré que le basilic et le sorgho ont permis de réduire l’abondance des insectes respectivement de 7% et 5% et accroître leur diversité respectivement de 8% et 13% avec la présence des ennemis naturels dans les parcelles. De même, les résultats ont révélé le potentiel du basilic et du sorgho à réduire très significativement (Pr = 0,0015) la défoliation respectivement de 36% et 34% dans les parcelles du moringa. Le sorgho et le basilic peuvent être des meilleurs candidats à intégrer dans la gestion agroécologique des insectes défoliateurs du moringa.
Author Keywords: Moringa, basilic, sorgho, maïs, gestion, défoliateur, Niger.
How to Cite this Article
Akonde Zinsou François-Xavier, Ousmane Zakari Moussa, and Iro Dan Guimbo, “Potential of basil, sorghum and maize as service plants in the management of Moringa defoliating insects in Niger,” International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, vol. 45, no. 2, pp. 357–370, April 2025.
