ABUNDANCE, DAMAGE SEVERITY OF MAJOR INSECT PESTS OF CHILLI AND THEIR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT THROUGH IPM BASED MODULES

Abstract

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is a vital and the most essential spice as well as vegetable crop in Bangladesh. Nowadays, the productivity of chilli is being decrease due to attack of insect pests. For the purpose of study on the abundance and damage severity, randomize 10 plants were selected from the experimental field. Besides, a field investigation was conducted at the field laboratory of Department of Entomology, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh, Bangladesh in a randomized block design (RCBD) with a plot size of 1m2 with each treatment replicated three times in order to know the feasibility of four IPM based modules against major insect pests of chilli during Rabi season, 2020-2021 where Chilli variety BARI Morich-03 was used as an experimental crop. Results revealed that aphid exhibited the highest number of population (312.89/plant) and it caused damage maximum (36.57%) too which was followed by 264.36, 206.42, 186.95/plant and 32.16%, 23.45%, 19.88% in thrips, mites and jassid, respectively. The rank of incidence and damage was aphid>thrips>mites>jassid. On the contrary, for controlling the insect pests of chilli, of different IPM based modules, M-2 module was found the most promising in reducing the population of aphids (22.47/plant), thrips (53.18/plant), mites (62.45/plant), jassid (54.12/plant) and fruit borer (3.19/plant), where were obtained the greater plant height (72.35cm), highest number of branches (31.02/plant) & green fruits (404.13/plant) per plant, maximum weight of 1000 seed (4.03g) and better yield (8.42 t/ha). Furthermore, the highest benefit cost ratio (BCR) (1:1.56) was recorded by M-2 modules followed by M-4 (1:1.44), M-1 (1:1.12) and M-3 (1:1.09), respectively. Thus, the overall order of effectiveness of various IPM based modules was M-2>M-4>M-1>M-3. From the result, it also may be concluded that the cumulative insect pests per plant was strong as well as negatively correlated with the yield (t/ha) i.e. yield was increased due to decrease of cumulative insect pests per plant in chilli production. Therefore, M-2 can be used to reduction of major insect pests of chilli, environment safely and increased yield of chilli.