Compatibility of Different Pesticides Used for Aphid and Stripe Rust Control in Wheat

Abstract

Wheat is the principal cereal crop of India and every year it suffers serious grain yield losses due to insect pest and diseases. In last few years, the simultaneous attacks of aphids and stripe rust were noticed during reproductive stages of wheat growth. As such the combination of different plant protection chemicals is not recommended, but combined application saves time, labour and money by reducing the number of sprays. Thus, it becomes inevitable for farmers to think about pesticide combinations when simultaneous appearance of disease and insect are confronted in the field. The compatibility of insecticide and fungicide mixture is a matter of great concern. The investigations were conducted to test the field efficacy and compatibility of some insecticides with broad spectrum fungicide propiconazole. The results of the studies clearly indicated that combinations of propiconazole with imidacloprid and thiamethoxam did not hinder their efficacy. However, the aphid control was significantly less (0-5.95 %) when the combination of insecticide and fungicide were sprayed in 500 litres of spray volume as compared to 250 litres of spray volume per hectare. At the same time, reduction in coccinellid population was also less (2.48-8.96%) when 500 litres of spray volume was used. The information from the study will help the farmers confronted with the combined attack of stripe rust and aphids in wheat growing regions of the country. The tested combinations can reduce cost of pesticide application in wheat crop and can also fit well in IPM rogramme. DOI:10.25174/2249-4065/2017/66631