PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

This study aims to determine the effect of various concentrations of dry tobacco stem bark extract (Nicotiana tabacum var. Virginia) on armyworm pests (Spodoptera litura F.) and the presence of predators on potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.). The experiment was conducted in Sembalun Village, East Lombok Regency, from July to September 2024. The parameters observed were pest population, intensity of pest attacks, presence of pest enemies, number of tubers, and tuber weight. This study used a Randomised Block Design consisting of 6 treatments (T) with four replications, namely T0 (control), T1 (abamectin), T2 (tobacco extract 30 ml/1000 ml water), T3 (tobacco extract 40 ml/1000 ml water), T4 (tobacco extract 50 ml/1000 ml water) and T5 (tobacco extract 60 ml/1000 ml water). The results showed that the use of botanical pesticides from dry tobacco stem bark can reduce the population and intensity of armyworm attacks. Application with a concentration of 30 ml/L water (T2) had a different effect compared to the control treatment (T0). The higher the concentration used, the higher the ability to suppress pest populations and the intensity of pest attacks. The percentage of dry tobacco bark yield at a concentration of 60 ml/L water (T5) did not differ significantly from the chemical pesticide abamectin (T1) in suppressing the population and intensity of attacks by armyworms (Spodoptera litura F.).