Influence of Some Botanical Powders in Preserving Nutritional Quality of Stored Sorghum Infested by Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Nigeria

Suleiman, M.^* & Abdullahi, B. K.

Department of Biology, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina, Nigeria

Suleiman, M., Department of Biology, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina, Nigeria.

Keywords: Botanical Powders; Infestations; Mineral Contents; Proximate Composition; S. zeamais; Sorghum Grains

Abstract

Quality deterioration in sorghum grain caused by S. zeamais after six months post treatment with some botanicals was determined by proximate and mineral analyses of the grain before and after infestation. Twenty grams of sorghum were treated with leaf powders of Euphorbia balsamifera Aiton, Lawsonia inermis L., Mitracarpus hirtus (L.) DC and Senna obtusifolia L. at the concentrations of 2.5 x 10⁴, 5.0 x 10⁴ and 10.0 x 10⁴ ppm along with conventional insecticide (permethrin) at 0.056 x 10⁴ ppm. The results showed that moisture content was not significantly different (p > 0.05). Ash was higher in treated grains than in untreated ones and vice versa for crude fibre. Percent crude lipid in treated grains ranged from 6.50 ± 0.00 to 7.17 ± 0.17% and increased with increased in concentrations. The amount of crude protein decreased drastically in untreated samples compared to treated grains where it varied between 8.75 ± 0.01 to 8.99 ± 0.41%. Carbohydrate content in the sorghum grains was significantly different ( p < 0.05 ) among the botanical treatments.

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