Population dynamics of pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera HUBNER) infesting oats in relation to abiotic factors

Abstract

Experiment was carried out in the field at the Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura, Kashmir, India during 2015-16 under free choice conditions to Population dynamics of pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera HUBNER) infesting oats in relation to abiotic factors. The results of investigation on population dynamics of pod borer, (Helicoverpa armigera HUBNER) on oats revealed that the larval activity appeared from 12th meteorological week with 7.97 larvae/m2 and Peak of larval population of H. armigera was recorded 23.26 larvae/m2 in 22nd meteorological week. However, adult appeared from 10th meteorological week (2 adults/trap/week) reached its peak 17 adults /trap/week in the 21th meteorological week. Later on, the pest population declined gradually towards the maturity of crop. Correlation of H. armigera adult with different weather parameters indicated that highly significant positive correlation with maximum, minimum temperature and sunshine with their respective values of (r =0.89), (r =0.88) and (r =0.69). However, these adults were highly significant negatively correlated with relative humidity of morning and evening (r = -S0.82) and (r = -0.44), respectively. Similarly, the populations exhibited non-significant negative correlation with rainfall (r = -0.13). However, H. armigera larvae exhibited a highly significant positive correlation with maximum temperature (r =0.74), (r =0.92); minimum temperature (r =0.72), (r =0.92) and sunshine (r =0.56), (r =0.69), respectively.