Evaluation and Utilization of Neem Cake Against the Rice Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Homoptera: Delphacidae)

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Abstract
Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) cake showed potential for use against the rice brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stal), in laboratory and field trials. There was no distinct difference in settling response of N. lugens females when given a choice of rice plants grown in soil incorporated with urea, sulfur-coated urea (SCU 21), or neem cake-urea mixture at 120 kg of N/ha. However, food intake by newly emerged females was significantly reduced when they were confined to plants treated with a 3:10 neem cake-urea mixture. Significantly fewer 1st-instar nymphs reached the adult stage on plants treated with 2:10 or 3:10 neem cake-urea mixture than on plants treated with urea or SCU 21. Adult longevity, fecundity, oviposition, and hatchability of eggs were not adversely affected by neem cake application. However, a somewhat lower buildup of N. lugens populations comprised of nymphs and adults was recorded 30 days after infestation on plants applied with a 3:10 neem cake-urea mixture compared with controls. In field trials, plots treated with a 2:10 neem cake-urea mixture applied at 120 kg of N/ha gave significantly higher yields than control plots in both dry and wet seasons.