Evaluation of the Efficacy of an <i>Aloe barbadensis </i>Based Biological Insecticide against Pests of <i>Abelmochus esculentus </i>for Promoting Ecological Agriculture (Far-North, Cameroon)

Abstract

Chemical insecticides have been considered as a means to combat crop pests. Although their effectiveness is evident, their impact on the environment is increasingly being discussed. The aim of this study is to determine the agro-ecological potential of a biological insecticide (C₂₅H₃₂O₁₂) based on <i>Aloe barbadensis</i> in a Sahelian context. For this purpose, a completely randomized block experimental design with 3 replications and 4 treatments was set up to experiment with <i>Aloe barbadensis</i> as a bioinsecticide against pests of <i>Abe</i><i>l</i><i>moschus esculentus</i>. However, data were collected using an observation and parameter monitoring grid. This includes the cultivation of <i>Abelmoschus e</i><i>s</i><i>culentus</i>, soil preparation, seeding and watering, plot labeling, preparation of the bioinsecticide (selection and preparation of raw materials, grinding of <i>Aloe barbadensis</i> miller and extraction of the crude bioinsecticide, quantification of treatment doses and dilution, and obtaining the formulated bioinsecticide), plant watering, plant treatment, and finally parameter monitoring. The results obtained reveal that the level of damage is significantly high in the control treatment T0 (63%) compared to the other treatments, with 29% for treatment T1, 7% for T2, and 1% for T3, implying a strong action capability of this insecticide against pests of <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i>. Therefore, it can be concluded that for a normal growing season of <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i>, this biological insecticide should be sprayed 12 times. Furthermore, this biological insecticide is unique in that it does not inflict any gastric toxicity on the pests, which gives it the characteristic of being a repellent. It is a biological insecticide whose efficacy period has been tested, with a minimum duration of 21 days. In conclusion, this formulated bioinsecticide based on <i>Aloe </i><i>ba</i><i>r</i><i>badensis</i> demonstrates significant efficacy against pests of <i>Abelmoschus e</i><i>s</i><i>culentus</i>. In the future, we will consider experimenting with its effectiveness against pests of other plants.