Eco-friendly management of rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae Linnaeus) on sorghum during storage

Abstract

Among different plant products evaluated for their efficacy against rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae Linnaeus for six months stored sorghum seeds, sweet flag rhizome powder @ 5% was found significantly superior in reducing 100 percent adult mortality, no seed damage, no seed weight loss and higher seed germination (85.67%) followed by neem seed kernel powder @ 5% with significant maximum adult mortality (85.00%), least seed damage (13.00%), lowest seed weight loss (5.16%) and higher germination percentage (74.33%). The effectiveness of next treatments viz., karanj seed powder @ 5%, neem leaf powder @ 5%, custard apple leaf powder @ 5% and karanj leaf powder @ 5% which shows less mortality (61.67, 51.33, 43.33 and 40.00%), less seed damage (28.67, 42.00, 51.33 and 54.00%), less weight loss (16.19, 22.50, 28.08 and 31.03%) and less germination (67.33, 60.67, 58.00 and 55.67%), respectively. Seed treated with tulsi leaf powder @ 5% and turmeric rhizome powder @ 5% was not found effective against rice weevil, which showed the least adult mortality (30.00 and 26.67%), more seed damage (64.33 and 67.33%), more weight loss (37.19 and 38.60%) and least germination (48.33 and 44.67%), respectively.