Effectiveness of Packaging Integrated with Plant Extracts in Controlling Maize Weevil <i>Sitophilus zeamais</i>

Abstract

Maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais is one of the storage pests that compromise both quality and quantity of stored maize grains. In Malawi, most smallholder farmers use botanicals like Tephrosia vogelii Hook and Lantana camara to manage S. zeamais. This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of packaging integrated with plant extracts in controlling this pest. Ziploc bags, paper cartons, grass jars, paper envelopes and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) water bottles are the common packaging and storage materials for these botanical pesticides used by small holder farmers. This study involved preliminary experiments in which plant extracts within packaging materials were tested, for their efficacy against S. zeamais for five months. PET water bottle provided significant (p<0.01) control over other treatments to store the maize seeds against S. zeamais. Thereafter, the effect of botanicals packaged and stored for one month in PET water bottle was studied on grain damage caused by the weevils. The inhibition effect of the botanicals on grain damage was significant (p<0.01). This study obtained vital information that can be utilized by farmers as a sustainable way to manage storage pests.