Integrated Pest Management of Diamondback Moth in Commercial Cabbage Production in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria

Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) is the costliest pest of brassica vegetables worldwide, and its management in commercial production systems requires integrated strategies that reduce chemical dependency while maintaining economic viability. Plateau State's temperate highland climate supports year-round cabbage cultivation, making it one of Nigeria's most significant brassica production zones. This study evaluates an integrated pest management (IPM) program for diamondback moth on commercial cabbage farms in Plateau State, comparing the performance of farmer-standard synthetic insecticide programs against IPM packages incorporating bioinsecticides, pheromone trapping, and economic threshold-based spray decisions. Thirty commercial farms will be recruited and randomly assigned to the three treatment protocols over two consecutive production cycles. Key performance indicators include larval density per plant, leaf damage scores, marketable yield, and cost of pest control per hectare. Residue analysis on harvested cabbage heads will also be performed. Data will be analyzed using mixed-effects models accounting for farm-level variation. The study is designed to provide commercially relevant IPM evidence for the Plateau State Agricultural Development Programme and vegetable trading companies operating out of Jos markets. Adoption barriers and farmer willingness to transition to IPM will be assessed through end-of-study surveys. Keywords: integrated pest management, diamondback moth, cabbage, Plateau State, bioinsecticide