ABUNDENCE OF COWPEA APHID AND AFRICAN BOLLWORM ON FABA BEAN IN SELECTED KEBELES OF ALICHO WERIRO WOREDA OF SILTE ZONE, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Pulses, such as faba beans, are important crops grown next to cereals in Ethiopia. They provide both nutritional and economic advantages for small-holding farmers nationally. Nevertheless, cowpea aphids and African bollworms were reported as important pests. Hence, field surveys were conducted on the abundance of the aforementioned pests of faba bean during the long rainy season of June to November 2023 in 24 randomly selected farmers ‘farms of eight kebeles having mid-land and high-land agro-climates in Alicho Weriro district, using a multi-stage sampling design. Accordingly, the abundance of aphid was observed to be significantly (p < 0.05) varied among kebeles of high-land and mid-land. Greatest abundance of aphid was recorded in Gindo kebele (505.83 ±2.84), followed by Gidirat (499.58±2.48) and Woger-dema (493.00±1.36) kebeles (mid-land) than in Edo-1, Edo-2, Fuchare, and Gone kebeles (≤284.0±4.45) (high-land). Highest density of the African bollworm was recorded at Gindo (244.00±9.09), Gidirat (278.00±4.92), Abijat (246.00±6.07), and Woger-dema (291.00±4.43) kebeles (mid-land) than in Edo-1, Edo-2, Fuchare, and Gone kebeles (≤160.00±8.42) (high-land) Both the cowpea aphids and the African bollworm were observed to feed on pods, flowers, leaves, and stems, the latter being preferred to feed on pods and flowers, while the former preferred young leaves, pods, and flowers, in respective order. The highest peak of African bollworm was recorded in September, followed by August and July, while the highest peak of aphid density was recorded in August, followed by the density in July and September. Furthermore, substantial density of the cowpea aphid and African bollworm was recorded in all the tested plant parts in kebeles of both mid-land and high-land. Consequently, the cowpea aphid and African bollworm were found to be the predominant pests of faba bean in the study area. Furthermore, a damage estimate assessment should be done to gain more reliable data on African bollworm and cowpea aphids’ status on faba beans.