Knowledge Levels of the Nursery Workers in Riyadh City and Addiriyah Province on the Insects of Ornamental Plants and their Control Measures

Abstract

This study aimed at exploring the level of knowledge of the nurseries workers about some of the insects of the ornamental plants, infection symptoms and methods of control. The level of their knowledge was measured by identifying the sources of information, used by them. Data were collected from the workers of the 91 nurseries at Riyadh city and Alddiriyah province, using a valid and a reliable questionnaire. The data were analyzed using frequency distribution, means, standard deviation, chi square test and multiple regression analysis, by using SPSS program. Results indicated that more than two thirds (65.9%) of the respondents were non-Saudis and they were considered as temporary laborers. About 90% of the respondents had good knowledge of the Arabic language, and only 42.9% of them could read English. The fact undermines their ability to make use of sources of information such as the pesticides label and extension pamphlets written in English. Moreover, the study revealed that 56% of the respondents were born in the urban areas; only 7.7% of them did not have formal education and 59.3% of them had received post graduate level education at the university. The study further revealed that half of the respondents were involved in agriculture, and 40.7% of them were working with the ornamental plants for ten or more years, providing them with an opportunity to acquire good experience. The respondents had the medium level of knowledge about insects of ornamental plants i.e. 25.92 degree measured on a scale that ranges from 8 to 40 degrees. The workers had highest level of knowledge (4.1 degrees on a 5 degree scale) on Aphids followed by Mealy bug (3.7 degrees, while they were having the lowest level of knowledge on Leaf cutter bee (2.1) and Tropinota squalida (2.5), While diagnosing the infection symptoms caused by insects, the respondents had an average knowledge level and that was found to be 44.5 degrees with a standard deviation of 7.7 degree and a median of 54 degree, on a scale that ranged from 36 to 72 degrees. The level of knowledge of the respondents on the infection symptoms was lower than their knowledge on insects. However, the respondents’ level of knowledge about the symptoms of insects’ infection was found to be consistent with their knowledge about the different insects. The highest level of knowledge about symptoms of infection (7.2) was on aphids and the lowest level of knowledge (4.9) was on the symptoms of infection caused by Leaf cutter bee and Tropinota squalida.