Yield Performance of Maize Treated with Neem Seed Extracts against Stem Borers

Maize is cultivated throughout the ecological zones of Nigeria, and it is found with a high yield potential in savanna regions. It is cultivated under a broad range of climatic conditions. Maize is the most cost-effective and highest yield plant resource in the world. It serves as a material for the production of livestock forage; fodder and feed in sub-Saharan Africa. Lepidopteran stem borers are a major pest of maize and can cause losses between 10-70% in maize. Field bioassays were conducted to determine efficacies of neem seed kernel extracts in the control of maize stem borers. The results showed that neem seed kernel extracts significantly (P=0.05) reduced stem borer damage on maize plants in terms of dead hearts and stem borer holes; reduced the infestation and development of the stem borers and also significantly (P=0.05) increase grain yield by 6.98% (Neem Seed Oil), 5.63% (neem seed powder), and 4.45% (neem seed aqueous extract) above the control (untreated). The order of the efficacy of neem seed kernel extracts is: NSO>NSP>NSAE. It is suggested that neem as biopesticide, may be suitable as alternative to synthetic pesticides which are not eco friendly, and toxic to users, for the management of maize stem borers, especially in Nigerian.