Comparative Effects of Piper guineense Emulsion and Cabbage-Tomato Intercropping for Controlling Cabbage Pests and Improving Performance

Aim: To improve cabbage production by controlling cabbage pests using locally produced organic pesticide and cabbage-tomato intercropping.

Methodology: Four treatments (control, cabbage-tomato intercropping, organic and synthetic pesticides) were evaluated for their potential to control cabbage pests and improve performance.

Results: Cabbage pest infestation correlated negatively with treatments (r = −0.95), ranging from 2–23 infested plants across treatments that differed (P = .001) significantly, with highest in control compared to other treatments (P = .05). Diamondback moth ranged from 1–10 per plant and differed (P = .001) significantly across treatments, with highest in control compared to other treatments (P = .05). Looper larvae correlated negatively with treatments (r = −0.62), ranging from 0–8 per plant and differed (P = .05) significantly across treatments, with highest in control compared to other treatments (P = .05). Snails ranged from 34–91 per treatment and differed (P = .001) significantly across treatments, with highest in control and lowest in organic compared to other treatments (P = .05). The number of sprouted cabbage plants ranged from 0–5 per treatment and differed (P = .001) significantly across treatments, with highest in control compared to other treatments (P = .05). Sprouted cabbage correlated negatively with treatments (r= −0.93) and correlated positively with pest infestation (r = 0.81), diamondback moth (r = 0.71) and looper (r= 0.58). Cabbage yield ranged from 3.2–6.0 t ha-1 and differed (P = .05) significantly across treatments with the lowest in control and highest in intercropping (P = .05). Cabbage yield correlated negatively with diamondback moth (r = −0.62), looper (r = −0.63) and sprouted cabbage (r = −0.62).

Conclusion: Piper emulsion and intercropping effectively controlled cabbage pests while intercropping additionally increased cabbage yield.