Paul U.V., Ampofo J.K.O., Hilbeck A., Edwards P.
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Institute of Integrative Biology, Universitätsstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), P.O. Box 2704, Arusha, Tanzania; Box 71, 38 Northwest Arch, Twizel 7944, New Zealand; Harvest Plus, C/o, CIAT Uganda, P.O. Box 6247, Kampala, Uganda
Paul, U.V., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Institute of Integrative Biology, Universitätsstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland, Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), P.O. Box 2704, Arusha, Tanzania, Box 71, 38 Northwest Arch, Twizel 7944, New Zealand; Ampofo, J.K.O., Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), P.O. Box 2704, Arusha, Tanzania, Harvest Plus, C/o, CIAT Uganda, P.O. Box 6247, Kampala, Uganda; Hilbeck, A., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Institute of Integrative Biology, Universitätsstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Edwards, P., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Institute of Integrative Biology, Universitätsstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are a major source of dietary protein and calories for the poor in East Africa. The increasingly abundant Ootheca bennigseni (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a key pest that threatens bean production and jeopardizes farmers' harvest. Participatory research with farmers suggested the need for affordable and accessible organic pest control methods. The effect of diluted cow urine and aqueous extract from vemonia (Vernonia lasiopus var. iodocalyx) leaves was evaluated in three consecutive applications. Researcher-managed on-farm trials showed that cow urine reduced pest abundance for at least 24 hours. The aqueous vemonia extract reduced the insect abundance consistently for at least 7 days. Foliar damage at the peak time of infestation was significantly reduced by vernonia but not by cow urine. Future research needs to find ways to enhance and prolong the efficacy of natural substances and determine the relationship between adult abundance, larval population and bean yield.