Effect of application rates of selected natural pesticides on soil biochemical parameters and litter decomposition

An experiment was carried out at the cocoa plantation of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching and Research Farm to study the comparative effects of siam weed and neem leaf extracts (as natural pesticides) and a synthetic pesticide- Endocelr (Endosulfan) on soil microorganism and litter decomposit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAfrican journal of agricultural research Vol. 9; no. 50; pp. 3655 - 3662
Main Authors Okoya, A A, Sonaike, T O, Adekunle, O K
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Lagos Academic Journals 11.12.2014
Subjects
Cocoa
Experiments
Pesticides
Science and Technology
Toxicity
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Summary:An experiment was carried out at the cocoa plantation of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching and Research Farm to study the comparative effects of siam weed and neem leaf extracts (as natural pesticides) and a synthetic pesticide- Endocelr (Endosulfan) on soil microorganism and litter decomposition in cocoa plantation to determine a safe application rate on soil microbial population and some soil chemical properties. Soil samples were collected on monthly basis for five months after the application of aqueous extracts of fresh leaves of siam weed and neem plants. Samples were analyzed for total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) and exchangeable cations using standard methods. Results showed that application of neem extract at 40,000 mg/kg (w/v) gave the highest microbial load and aided microbial activity more than siam at 40,000 mg/kg (w/v) with the least microbial load. Hence, neem plant was found to be less toxic than siam weed. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1991-637X