Appraisal of economic threshold level for the management of pigeonpea pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch)

Abstract

Now-a-days economic damage levels caused by insects and their impacts on crop production are the most discussed parameters in the insect management. The economic threshold level is the basic concept for decision making in integrated pest management programs. Integrated pest management programs are basically different in handling insect problems by focusing on tolerating insect influences than control approaches. Economic threshold level enumerates which levels of insect populations can be tolerated and which cannot; hereby it plays vital role in integrated pest management programs. The economic thresholds would reduce unnecessary use of management tactics in general and insecticides in particular. A study was conducted at Research Farm, Agricultural Entomology Unit, Agricultural Research Station, Badnapur (Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), Parbhani), Maharashtra, India during Kharif season of 2015-16 to determine the economic threshold level (ETL) for the management of pigeonpea pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch). The ETL was found varied among genotypes under study i.e. BSMR-736, BDN-708, BDN-2010-1 and ICP-8863 which ranged from 6.44 to 13.06 maggots, 2.64 to 8.38 percent pod damage and 1.09 to 3.56 percent grain damage, with a mean of 7.76 maggots, 4.60 percent pod damage and 2.05 percent grain damage, respectively at which the control measures can be initiated for management of pigeonpea pod fly, M. obtusa.