Effects of Plantain Inflorescence Ash and Neem Seed Extracts on the Yield and Insect Pests of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)In Calabar, Nigeria

Field experiments were conducted between April and July 2005 to evaluate the effects of plantain inflorescence stalk ash and crude neem products on the insect pests and yield of eggplant, Solanum melongena L. in Calabar, southern Nigeria. The experiments were conducted in randomised complete block designs consisting of four formulations of each plant product plus the control making 5 treatments each. Plantain ash concentrations were as effective as neem oil and water extracts in the prevention of pests colonization of the crop. Statistical analysis also showed that both plant products significantly (p< 0.001) increased the yields of S. melongena than the untreated plots. In plantain ash treated plots, 5% ash concentration produced 2.28 kg fresh fruits weight and 23.2 fruits per plant, while the untreated yielded 0.94 kg fresh fruits weight and 11.8 fruits per plant, respectively. In neem products experiment, 5% Crude Neem Oil (CNO) yielded 1.78 kg fruits and 24 fruits per plant, while the untreated produced 0.9 kg fruits and 16 fruits per plant, respectively.