author(s)
Mustapha AU, Galadima IB, Idriss MM, Bukar A and Maina UM

abstract
An experiment was conducted in Maiduguri; sudan savanna and Geidam ; sahel savanna zones of Nigeria to compare the efficacy of neem seed powder (NSP) with the synthetic nematicide aldicarb in the management of the root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita infesting okra. The experiment was laid out in completely randomize block (CRB) design with four treatments replicated three times. In each block the okra variety ladyfinger was assigned to the main plots while neem (1ton/ha) alone, Aldicarb (2kg ai/ha 3G) alone, neem and Aldicarb in combination (0.5ton/ha and 1kg ai/ha 3G) and untreated- control were assigned to the subplot. Each experimental plot was amended with the treatments according to the experimental design. Data were recorded on initial and final nematodes population, plant height, number of leaves, fresh shoot weight, dry shoot weight and Galling index. The results revealed significant effect of aldicarb and NSP and aldicarb in combination on final nematodes population over the untreated controls and NSP alone. No significant difference was observed among the treatments in terms of plant height and fresh shoot weight. However, in both locations all the treatments recorded significantly higher number of leaves, higher weights of dry shoots over the untreated controls. Significantly lower galling indexes were recorded in all the treatments over the untreated control in both locations.