Field evaluation of intercrops on the incidence of early shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus (Snellen.) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) in sustainable sugarcane initiative (SSI) technology

Abstract

Field trial was conducted in sugarcane raised under Sustainable Sugarcane initiative(SSI) technology at Vazhavachanur village, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu to assess the influence of inter crops on the damage level of early shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus (Snellen.) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae), cane yield and population of coccinellid predators. Sex intercrops viz., cowpea, blackgram, greengram, daincha, groundnut and moth bean were raised as two rows in sugarcane. All the inter crops were found to reduce the damage of early shoot borer and the population of coccinellid beetles were found on sugarcane and inter crops. Significant lowest cumulative per cent incidence of early shoot borer was recorded in Sugarcane + daincha (18.49) with highest mean per cent reduction over control (38.51), followed by sugarcane + cowpea with cumulative per cent damage of 21.05, with mean per cent reduction (29.99) over control. The mean population of coccinellid beetles ranged from 0.57 /clump to 0.83/clump at 95 DAP and all are non-significant. The mean population of coccinellid beetles on the intercrops at 35DAP ranged from 0.57 to 1.17 and at 65 DAP it ranged from 1.10 to 1.23.