Validation of integrated pest management module against major insect pests of pigeonpea, (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)

Abstract

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) module was validated against major insect pests of pigeonpea in farmers’ fields during Kharif, 2011 in Warangal district, Andhra Pradesh (now in Telangana), India. IPM module included installation of pheromone traps @ 10/ha, erection of bird perches @ 50/ha, spraying of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrosis virus (Ha NPV) @ 500 LE/ha, need based spraying of insecticides like acephate (@ 500 g/ha) + DDVP (@ 500 ml/ha); indoxacarb (@ 500 ml/ha), spinosad (@ 200 ml/ha). Farmers’ practice included only 2 sprays of quinalphos @ 1 lt/ha at flowering and at 20-25 days after 1st spraying. Per cent pod damage by different insect pests viz., gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera), pod fly (Melanagromyza obtusa), spotted pod borer (Maruca vitrata) decreased by 61.08, 37.65 and 48.66 per cent, respectively, in IPM over farmers’ practice fields. IPM fields recorded 61 per cent yield increase over farmers’ practice with mean Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.73.