Impact of integrated pest management (IPM) module on major insect-pests of wheat and their natural enemies in North-western plains of India

Abstract

In order to sustain the wheat production in North-western plains of India, a study was conducted to test the integrated pest management (IPM) module with commonly used farmer’s practices for the management of insect pests during 2017-18 and 2018-19. It was observed that aphid population was significantly lower in IPM plot (2.48-2.60 aphids/tiller) as compared to farmer’s practices (13.93-16.46 aphids/tiller) at peak period of their activity. At the same time, the population of coccinellids predators was significantly higher in IPM plots (6.80 beetle/m2) as compared to non-IPM plots (1.26 beetles/m2) during 2017-18. The termite damage ranged from 2.48-2.96 per cent in farmer's practices while it was only 0.20-0.80 per cent in IPM fields. Similarly, greater pink stem borer (PSB) damage was recorded in farmer's practices (0.96-2.48 per cent) as compared to IPM fields (0.46-0.68 per cent). The incidence of brown wheat mite (BWM) was recorded on maturing wheat and it was 2-5 fold higher in farmer's practice (11.73-31.53 mites/10 cm2) as compared to IPM plots (4.20- 5.00 mites/10 cm2). Approximately 9 per cent increase in grain yield resulted in additional income of Rs. 9291/ha in IPM plot. Seed treatment, yellow sticky trap based monitoring of aphids and need based application of insecticide resulted in better control of insect. Doi.org/10.25174/2582-2675/2020/100185