[ Effets des plantes biopesticides sur la gestion de la chenille légionnaire d’automne (Spodoptera frugiperda) du maïs (Zea mays L.) dans les conditions édapho-climatiques de Kinshasa/Mont-Amba ]
Volume 87, Issue 1, October 2026, Pages 19–32
Nestor Eleko Ndengo1, Tenge Tenge Mumpini Divin2, and Mwimbu Katondo Plamedi3
1 Université de Kinshasa, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Département de Phytotechnie, BP117 Kinshasa XI, RD Congo
2 Assistant, Département de Phytotechnie, Université de Kinshasa, RD Congo
3 Assistant, Département de Phytotechnie, Université de Kinshasa, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2026 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, maize is currently the second most important food crop after cassava. It is the most energy-rich cereal, thanks to its nutritional benefits (high starch content) and economic advantages (easy to grow, harvest and store). However, it is susceptible to pest attacks, particularly from the fall armyworm (CLA), Spodoptera frugiperda, which can cause enormous losses to maize crops. For this reason, synthetic pesticides remain the most widely used method of control. However, the current focus on preserving the environment for sustainable agriculture requires the search for alternative methods, and phytopesticides are an interesting avenue of research due to their advantages. This study aimed to establish a simple and accessible means of biological protection for farmers in the fight against the fall armyworm in order to ensure sustainable production that respects the health of populations and the environment. Specifically, the objectives were to: I) evaluate the biocidal potential of aqueous extracts of neem leaves and chilli peppers as an alternative to synthetic pesticides, and ii) evaluate the effects of these applications on the growth and productivity of the maize crop under study. The trial was conducted in the experimental garden of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of the University of Kinshasa located in the Kopia compound. This trial was conducted using a completely randomised block design with four treatments repeated three times. The treatments involved aqueous extracts of neem leaves and chilli peppers, chemical pesticides and a control without any treatment. Observations focused on vegetative and productive parameters and CLA infestations. With regard to the results obtained in relation to vegetative parameters, the plots treated with biopesticides showed a high germination rate (100%) and were vigorous (15.00 mm and 12.00 mm in diameter) compared to the chemical treatment and the control without protection (9.66 mm and 8.66 mm in diameter). The results of this study also show that the plots that received no protection were more severely attacked, with an incidence rate of 75.00%, compared to the plots treated with biopesticides (22.33% and 46.66%). The yield in kg/ha was highest in plants treated with biopesticides (2308.3 kg/ha and 1511.7 kg/ha), while the lowest yield was obtained in the unprotected control (556.7 kg/ha).
Author Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.), fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), biopesticide plants (neem and chilli pepper).
Volume 87, Issue 1, October 2026, Pages 19–32
Nestor Eleko Ndengo1, Tenge Tenge Mumpini Divin2, and Mwimbu Katondo Plamedi3
1 Université de Kinshasa, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Département de Phytotechnie, BP117 Kinshasa XI, RD Congo
2 Assistant, Département de Phytotechnie, Université de Kinshasa, RD Congo
3 Assistant, Département de Phytotechnie, Université de Kinshasa, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2026 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, maize is currently the second most important food crop after cassava. It is the most energy-rich cereal, thanks to its nutritional benefits (high starch content) and economic advantages (easy to grow, harvest and store). However, it is susceptible to pest attacks, particularly from the fall armyworm (CLA), Spodoptera frugiperda, which can cause enormous losses to maize crops. For this reason, synthetic pesticides remain the most widely used method of control. However, the current focus on preserving the environment for sustainable agriculture requires the search for alternative methods, and phytopesticides are an interesting avenue of research due to their advantages. This study aimed to establish a simple and accessible means of biological protection for farmers in the fight against the fall armyworm in order to ensure sustainable production that respects the health of populations and the environment. Specifically, the objectives were to: I) evaluate the biocidal potential of aqueous extracts of neem leaves and chilli peppers as an alternative to synthetic pesticides, and ii) evaluate the effects of these applications on the growth and productivity of the maize crop under study. The trial was conducted in the experimental garden of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of the University of Kinshasa located in the Kopia compound. This trial was conducted using a completely randomised block design with four treatments repeated three times. The treatments involved aqueous extracts of neem leaves and chilli peppers, chemical pesticides and a control without any treatment. Observations focused on vegetative and productive parameters and CLA infestations. With regard to the results obtained in relation to vegetative parameters, the plots treated with biopesticides showed a high germination rate (100%) and were vigorous (15.00 mm and 12.00 mm in diameter) compared to the chemical treatment and the control without protection (9.66 mm and 8.66 mm in diameter). The results of this study also show that the plots that received no protection were more severely attacked, with an incidence rate of 75.00%, compared to the plots treated with biopesticides (22.33% and 46.66%). The yield in kg/ha was highest in plants treated with biopesticides (2308.3 kg/ha and 1511.7 kg/ha), while the lowest yield was obtained in the unprotected control (556.7 kg/ha).
Author Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.), fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), biopesticide plants (neem and chilli pepper).
Abstract: (french)
En République Démocratique du Congo, le maïs représente actuellement la deuxième culture vivrière après le manioc. C’est la céréale la plus énergétique, par ses atouts nutritifs (richesse en amidon) et économique (culture simple à produire, à récolter et à stocker). Cependant, elle est sujette à des attaques de ravageurs, notamment la Chenille Légionnaire d’Automne (CLA), Spodoptera frugiperda, capable de causer des pertes énormes sur la culture de maïs. Pour cette raison, le recours aux pesticides de synthèse reste le moyen le plus utilisé. Par contre, l’intérêt actuel de préserver l’environnement pour une agriculture durable nécessite la recherche de procédés alternatifs et les phytopesticides constituent la voie de recherche intéressante en raison de leurs avantages. Cette étude visait la mise en place d’un moyen de protection biologique simple et accessible aux agriculteurs dans la lutte contre la Chenille Légionnaire d’Automne afin d’assurer une production durable, respectueuse de la santé des populations et de l’environnement. Spécifiquement, les objectifs consistaient à : I) évaluer les potentiels biocides des extraits aqueux de feuilles de neem et de fruits de piment comme alternative à l’usage des pesticides de synthèse, et ii) évaluer les effets de ces applications sur la croissance et la productivité de la culture de maïs sous étude. L’essai était réalisé dans le jardin expérimental de la Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques et Environnement de l’Université de Kinshasa situé à l’enceinte de Kopia. Cet essai a été conduit suivant le dispositif en blocs complets randomisés avec quatre traitements répétés trois fois. Les traitements ont concerné les extraits aqueux de feuilles de neem et de fruits de piment, le pesticide chimique et un témoin sans apport. Les observations ont porté sur les paramètres végétatifs, productifs et sur les infestations de la CLA. Au regard des résultats obtenus en rapport avec les paramètres végétatifs, les parcelles traitées avec les biopesticides ont présenté un taux de germination élevé (100%), elles ont été vigoureuses (15,00 mm et 12,00 mm de diamètre) comparativement au traitement chimique ainsi qu’au témoin sans protection (9,66 mm et 8,66 mm de diamètre). Il dérive toujours des résultats de ce travail que les parcelles qui n’ont reçu aucune protection ont plus été attaquées, avec un taux d’incidence de 75,00%, par rapport aux parcelles traitées avec les biopesticides (22,33% et 46,66%). Le rendement en kg/ha était le plus élevé chez les plantes traitées avec les biopesticides (2308,3 kg/ha et 1511,7 kg/ha), alors que le rendement le plus faible était obtenu chez le témoin sans protection (556,7 kg/ha).
Author Keywords: Maïs (Zea mays L.), Chenille Légionnaire d’Automne (Spodoptera frugiperda), plantes biopesticides (neem et piment).
How to Cite this Article
Nestor Eleko Ndengo, Tenge Tenge Mumpini Divin, and Mwimbu Katondo Plamedi, “Effects of biopesticide plants on the management of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in maize (Zea mays L.) under the soil and climate conditions of Kinshasa/Mont-Amba,” International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research, vol. 87, no. 1, pp. 19–32, October 2026.
