Succession of pests and their natural enemies on soybean

Abstract

Soybean [Glycine max Merrill (L.)] is the world’s most important oilseed and grain legume crop and considered as the wonder legume. The investigations were carried out on pest succession of sucking pests on soybean (Glycine max L.). Eight pests and three natural enemies were found active on soybean crop. Among the sucking pests, soybean crop invaded by jassid and whitefly which reached the peak level during second week of August (5.95 jassids and 6.85 whiteflies/three leaves). Though, thrips reached the peak level (5.85 thrips/three leaves) on third week of July. Mite attacked during flowering stage and invaded crop till the maturity with peak activity during third week of September (2.99 mite/cm2 leaf area). Among the different weather parameters, evening relative humidity showed significant positive correlation with jassid and whitefly population. While, None of the abiotic factors found playing significant role in building up the thrips population in soybean. Mite established significant positive correlation with maximum temperature and sunshine hours. The population of Chrysoperla and ladybird beetle had highly significant positive correlation with jassid, whitefly and thrips incidence in soybean while, spider constructed highly significant positive correlation with jassid and thrips and significant positive correlation with whitefly.