Biointensive pest management against yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulus Walker at Raipur, Chhattisgarh

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at IGKV, during kharif 2019 to test Biointensive Pest Management (BIPM) strategies against yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulus in paddy var ‘Swarna’ along with farmer’s practice and control. BIPM includes use of biopesticides and bio control agents without any chemical insecticides. Usually, farmers rely mostly on chemicals for the management of major pest of paddy at Chhattisgarh, the YSB, S. incertulus. The main objective was to see whether BIPM works to promote organic farming. Results showed that BIPM treated plots recorded significantly lesser dead hearts (DH) (8.50%) and white ear heads(WEH) (15.58%) as compared to the plots grown using farmer’s practice with DH% (11.24), WEH% (18.01) and control DH% (12.20), WEH% (20.51). The average yield was also found significantly higher in BIPM plots (31.56 kg/ plot) as compared to farmer’s practice i.e. (28.89 kg /plot) and control i.e. (25.25 kg/ plot) plots. Predators like coccinellids and spiders were found more abundant in BIPM plots than farmer’s practice and control plots.