Effect of Azotobacter-enriched vermicompost tea compared to Takumi pesticide on the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

The effectiveness of Azotobacter-enriched vermicompost tea and non-chemical treatments were investigated on the control of tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta. The experiment was performed in greenhouse with five treatments (vermicompost tea, azotobacter-enriched vermicompost tea, takumi pesticide, Azotobacter and control) in four replications under a completely randomized design. Three days after spraying, the numbers of larval tunnels on leaf and thirty days later, the numbers of adult moths of T. absoluta were counted. The results revealed that tomatoes treated with Azotobacter enriched vermicompost tea and Takumi had the lowest number of adult moths (9.35 and 13.75 per plant respectively). As well as, azotobacter treatment was able to reduce the adults moth by up to 50% compared to the control. The results of the number of larval tunnels showed that the mean number of larval tunnels/plant for Azotobacter enriched vermicompost tea was 19.50, which compared to other treatments, had the best effect in reducing the damage of tomato leaf miner. Vermicompost tea and Azotobacter as biological fertilizers, besides being able to increase the yield of tomatoes, have an effective role in reducing the population and damage of the tomato leaf miner pest, and they can be used in sustainable agriculture as an alternative with pesticides.