Author(s): Ogban EI, Essien RA, Ntem EJ and Akpe TE

Abstract: Field study was conducted in the Teaching and Research Farm of Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus during the early planting season of 2021 to study the effect of Organo-mineral fertilizer application on insect pests on garden eggplant in Obio Akpa, Akwa Ibom State. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three levels of fertilizer application (0, 2 and 4 t/ha) which served as treatments and were replicated three times. Eggplant seedlings were raised in a nursery and transplanted in the field when they were five weeks old. Observations were taken on general insect population, major insect pests, and effect of the level of fertilizer application on insect infestation from 2 to 12 weeks after transplanting (WAT). The major insect pests identified were Zonocerus variegatus, Ootheca mutabilis, Acrae aegina, Epilachna beetle and Anoplocnemis curvipes. Generally, all the major insects collected had their highest number in 4 t/h organo-mineral fertilizer treated plot. The study also showed a significant negative correlation with T= - 0.512, - 0.546 and - 0.508 for 2t/h, 4 t/h and the control respectively, between the number of fruits and pest frequency under different rates of fertilizer application. Although insect population increased as a result of organo-mineral fertilizer application, it had no negative effect in the performance of garden egg.\

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