Impact of Integrated Pest Management Modules on the Activity of Natural Enemies in Castor Ecosystem

Field trials were conducted during kharif season of 2016 and 2017 to evaluate the integrated pest management (IPM) module against major insect pests of castor in comparison with farmer's practice and untreated control. The IPM module viz., application of Btk @ 1 g/l for management ofsemilooper (Achaea janata), monitoring of tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) using pheromone trap (@ 4/acre from 30 DAS to November) and collection and destruction of gregarious stages of defoliators, application of flubendiamide 39.35 SC @ 0.2ml/l (for tobacco when foliar damage reaching 25%) and profenofos 50 EC @ 1ml/l (for capsule borer and or leafhopper when damage is reaching 10%) was found effective against insect pests in castor. After the treatment, mean population ofsemilooper (0.75 larva/plant), tobacco caterpillar (1.75 larva/plant), hairy caterpillar (0.67 larva/plant), capsule borer (1.02%), leafhopper (5.77 numbers/3 leaves/plant), and thrips (3.50 thrips/spike) was low in IPM module. Per cent parasitization by Microplitis maculipennis on semilooper larvae was highest (55.9%) in untreated control plots followed by IPM module plots (22.77%). Highest seed yield of 1770 kg/ha with favourable B:C ratio of 2.68 recorded from IPM module plot.

Field trials were conducted during kharif season of 2016 and 2017 to evaluate the integrated pest management (IPM) module against major insect pests of castor in comparison with farmer's practice and untreated control. The IPM module viz., application of Btk @ 1 g/l for management ofsemilooper (Achaea janata), monitoring of tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) using pheromone trap (@ 4/acre from 30 DAS to November) and collection and destruction of gregarious stages of defoliators, application of flubendiamide 39.35 SC @ 0.2ml/l (for tobacco when foliar damage reaching 25%) and profenofos 50 EC @ 1ml/l (for capsule borer and or leafhopper when damage is reaching 10%) was found effective against insect pests in castor. After the treatment, mean population ofsemilooper (0.75 larva/plant), tobacco caterpillar (1.75 larva/plant), hairy caterpillar (0.67 larva/plant), capsule borer (1.02%), leafhopper (5.77 numbers/3 leaves/plant), and thrips (3.50 thrips/spike) was low in IPM module. Per cent parasitization by Microplitis maculipennis on semilooper larvae was highest (55.9%) in untreated control plots followed by IPM module plots (22.77%). Highest seed yield of 1770 kg/ha with favourable B:C ratio of 2.68 recorded from IPM module plot.

Fruit fly (Dacus cucurbitae) is a major pest of cultivated cucurbits. Among cucurbits, incidence was more in bitter gourd and ridge gourd as compared to other cucurbitaceous veg-etables. IPM module has been developed for the successful management of cucurbit fruit fly. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) module com-prising of installation of cue-lure baited traps @ 50 traps/ha for mass trapping, weekly clipping of infested fruits, foliar spray of aqueous leaf ex-tracts of Morinda citrifolia @ 100g/l and foliar spray of spinosad 45SC or imidacloprid 17.8SL @ 0.3ml/l alternately at 15 days interval was found effective with respect to less fruit damage due to fruit fly (9%) and maximum fruit yield (10.75 t/ha) in bitter gourd as compared to un-treated control (39.3% fruit damage and fruit yield 5.53 t/ha). The same trend was also noticed in ridge gourd also. IPM module was found bet-ter with respect to less fruit damage (5.9%) and maximum fruit yield (7.59t/ha) in ridge gourd. The yield in untreated control plots was recorded 3.46t/ha. IPM module for cucurbit fruit fly gave higher cost benefit ratio of 1: 3.35 in IPM and 1: 2.30 in non-IPM fields of bitter gourd and 1: 1.99 in IPM and 1: 1.23 in non-IPM fields of ridge gourd, respectively. IPM module for cucur-bit fruit fly gave higher incremental cost benefit ratio of 1: 3.35 in IPM and 1: 2.30 in non-IPM fields of bitter gourd and 1: 1.99 in IPM and 1: 1.23 in non-IPM fields of ridge gourd, respectively. By using these management practices, application of synthetic insecticides can be reduced and low-er the risk to people, wildlife and the environ-ment.

To reduce the detrimental effect of insecticides, an effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) module is necessary for the eco-friendly management of Maruca vitrata in garden bean ecosystem. Two field trials were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of different insecticides and botanicals against M. vitrata on Lablab purpureus var. typicus. Two seasons field evaluation of insecticides revealed that chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC was the most effective treatment to control the pest recorded 0.11 and 0.36 larva/plant in two seasons, respectively after two rounds of spray followed by flubendiamide 20 WG (0.46 and 0.92 larva/ plant) and emamectin benzoate 5 SG (0.50 and 0.95 larva/plant). Among botanicals tested, commercial neem formulation and 5% Ageratina adenophora recorded the least larval count of 1.64 & 1.05 larva/plant and 2.24 & 1.45 larva/plant in two seasons, respectively. IPM modules were developed with three effective insecticides (chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC, flubendiamide 20 WG and emamectin benzoate 5 SG), two effective botanicals (commercial neem formulation 1500 ppm and 5% A. adenophora) along with the pheromone trap for validation. All the IPM modules were equally effective in managing M. vitrata population on L. purpureus and recorded a significantly (at 5 %) lower larval population than the farmer’s practice. The residues of chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide and emamectin benzoate reached below the detectable level at the time of harvest. The population reduction of predatory coccinellids and spiders was also lower in IPM modules than in farmer’s practice. An increased benefit cost (1.95 to 1.99) ratio was observed in IPM modules.

Background: Rice is one of the most common cereal crops in India, which has been found attacked by several insect pests including hoppers, stem borer, leaf folder, gall midge and ear head bugs. Farmers typically employ insecticides as preventative and curative management which causes needless issues. Although integrated pest management (IPM) has been recommended to nullify the ill effects of chemicals pesticides, farmers are hesitant to employ the IPM’s components and mostly rely on pesticides. IPM integrates knowledge-based techniques of biological, cultural, physical, host plant resistance and chemical control strategies in order to limit pest populations considered economically acceptable. Present investigation was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of IPM strategy improving upon the crop productivity. Methods: An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) module comprising of spacing, introduction of natural enemies, application of botanicals, entomopathogenic fungi, installation of yellow sticky traps and chemical pesticide (Thiamethoxam) was assessed in comparison with Farmers Practice (FP) (usual routine followed by the farmer during the cropping season) in the farmer’s fields. Result: The pooled mean data of per cent leaf incidence by Nephotettix virescens ranged between 4.59-6.25% during the two years research in IPM module, while in farmers practices mean leaf damage varied between 8.09-8.61%. Similarly, the leaf damage caused by Nilaparvata lugens ranged between 4.88-7.61% as compared to 8.64-10% in the farmers practices. The BC ration was recorded to be 1: 7.6 and 1:6.85 during 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Sitapur district in the Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) state of northern India has been observed to consume large amounts of WHO classified "extremely" and "highly hazardous" pesticides, in rice crop, posing significant health and environmental threats. Keeping in view this problem, integrated pest management (IPM) modules were synthesized for rice crop and then compared with non-IPM/farmer's practice (NIPM). This study assisted in identifying pesticides with reduced risk to the environment. To measure and compare risks, environmental impact quotient (EIQ) has been used as a pesticide risk indicator model, between IPM and NIPM programs. Using this model, the field EIQ values (EIQ field use rating or EIQ-FUR), for 32 commonly used pesticides in the region, were evaluated based on dosage, frequency, and percent active ingredients present in the pesticide formulations. The results conclude that copper oxychloride (CuOCl2) (50WP at 1.25kg/ha) and mancozeb (75WP at 1.25kg/ha) were the most detrimental to arthropod parasitoids and were the highest contributors to environmental risk (13-16%), in rice crop. This is based on the comparison of total dosage and active ingredients of pesticides applied under IPM and NIPM, with the total field EIQ values. The IPM modules were observed to have least impact on natural enemies with 30-40% increase in population, while keeping the weed population below 10%. NIPM, on the other hand, had resulted in 20% reduction in crop yields, 50% reduction in biodiversity, and about 150% increase in weed population, relative to the control (untreated) rice fields. Moreover, NIPM practices had been observed to pose 56% greater risk as per the total field EIQ values (62 for IPM and 141 for NIPM). The observations concluded that the EIQ model is a useful tool and can be easily used by the pesticide managers for assessing the risk against NIPM.

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate integrated pest management (IPM) module in castor using three popular cultivars(DCH-519, DCH-177, DCS-107) and compared with farmers' practice and untreated control. IPM module comprised of mechanical control of gregarious stages of tobacco caterpillar and older larvae of semilooper, economic threshold level based application of thiodicarb 75WP @ 375 g a.i./ha against tobacco caterpillar (at 25% foliage damage), indoxacarb 15.8EC @ 75 g a.i./ha against capsule borer (at 10% capsule damage) and dimethoate 30EC @ 250 g a.i./ha against leafhopper (at 10% hopper burn damage) superior in reducing the insect pest population over farmers' practice. In the IPM module, the mean population of semilooper, tobacco caterpillar, leafhopper and capsule borer damage was 0.3 larvae/plant, 0.8 larvae/plant, 16.2 leafhoppers/3 leaves/plant and 10.3% capsule damage as against 0.6 larvae/plant, 2.3 larvae/plant, 20.7 leafhoppers/3 leaves/plant and 16.5% capsule damage in farmers' practice, respectively. IPM module found safer to its larval parasitoid, Snellenius (Microplitis) maculipennis as compared to farmers' practice. The higher mean castor seed yield (1348 kg/ha) and avoidable yield loss (67.6%) was obtained from IPM module over farmers' practice with seed yield of 1008 kg/ha and avoidable yield loss of 55.5%. Further, higher net profit of ` 26889/ha and incremental cost-benefit ratio of 1:5.95 was recorded in IPM module as compared to ` 15584/ha and 1: 3.97 under farmers' practice.

Marigold (Tagetes sp.), a widely cultivated ornamental and medicinal plant, is economically significant in India. However, its productivity is compromised by infestations of key pests such as thrips (Thrips tabaci), mites (Tetranychusurticae), and bud borers (Helicoverpa armigera). Farmers often rely on excessive pesticide applications, leading to pest resistance, environmental pollution, and adverse effects on non-target organisms. This study underscores the importance of integrating organic amendments, botanicals, and selective pesticides in IPM modules to balance productivity and environmental health in marigold cultivation. Under the evaluation of the effectiveness of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) modules in controlling major pests in marigold crop reveals that four IPM modules were tested: Module-I (Bio-intensive), Module-II (Adaptable IPM), Module-III (Farmer practices), and Module-IV (Untreated check). Pest populations were recorded at fortnightly intervals, and flower damage and yield were assessed. Results showed that Module-IIincorporated cultural practices, organic amendments, and selective chemical controls, including neem cake, vermicompost, border crops, and advanced pesticides, consistently recorded the lowest pest populations and flower damage. Thrips and mite populations averaged 4.14 per plant and 0.24 per leaf, respectively, while bud borer larvae averaged 0.31 per plant. Flower damage was significantly reduced to 3.01%, and the yield was the highest at 10.52 tons/ha. While, Module-III (Farmer practices) relied heavily on chemical applications, achieving moderate pest control with 4.66 thrips per plant, 0.27 mites per leaf, and 0.51 larvae per plant. Module-I showed lower pest control efficacy due to the exclusive use of bio-intensive measures, while Module-IV exhibited the highest pest populations and flower damage, resulting in the lowest yield (5.40 tons/ha). This study underscores the importance of integrating organic amendments, botanicals, and selective pesticides in IPM modules to balance productivity and environmental health in marigold cultivation.

A field trial on testing of biocontrol based integrated pest management (IPM) module on cotton crop was conducted during three Kharif seasons 1999-2001. Results revealed that both the IPM modules (T1 and T2) proved more effective and economical against cotton pests than the insecticides modules in North Gujarat. These modules have also promoted the activity of natural enemies in cotton ecosystem.

Experiments on validation of integrated pest management (IPM) module against insect pest of pigeonpea in comparison with the Non-IPM (farmer’s practices) were conducted at N.E.B. Crop Research Centre, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar during Kharif 2014 and 2015. Adopted IPM module contained Seed treatment with Trichoderma spp. @10g/kg of seed, Sole crop, Bird perches @ 50/ha, need based insecticides spray (Chlorantraniliprole 18.5SC @ 30 g a. i./ha; Neem soap@10g/lit; Acetamiprid 20SP @ 20 g a. i./ha). The results indicated that minimum population of pod borers (Helicoverpa armigera,Maruca vitrata and podfly) and sucking insects (aphids, jassids, pod bug) was reported in IPM plots and maximum population of insects was observed in Non-IPM plots. Percent insect control over non-IPM was 50.98 % for H. armigera, 44.69 % for M. vitrata and 19.17 % for Maruca webbing were recorded. While, for sucking pest complex, insect control over non-IPM was 51.59 %, 40.36 % and 36.17 % against jassids, aphids and tur pod bug, respectively. Similarly, minimum pod borer damage (6.48 and 7.71 %) was recorded in IPM plots as compared to maximum pod borer damage (8.37 and 8.22 %) in non-IPM plots, respectively during 2014 and 2015. Whereas, pooled grain yield for IPM plots was 1286.5 kg/ha for both seasons as against 888 kg/ha in non-IPM plots with 1:2.89 benefit cost ratio. Hence, It is apparent that studied IPM module was able to increase the yield of pigeonepea with lower cost of production as against non-IPM thus it would be benefiting the farmers.

Cotton cultivars incorporated with different events of Cry proteins were evaluated for the incidence of sucking insect pests and abundance of predators under unprotected conditions during the years, 2009 and 2010. Among the sucking pests, whitefly, leafhopper and thrip were the major pests and there was no difference in the abundance of sucking pests among different hybrids. An integrated pest management (IPM) module based on use of eco-friendly strategies was developed and evaluated for transgenic cotton cultivars carrying different events including non-Bt cotton during 2010 and 2011 and was compared with the recommended regional package of practices (RPP) involving use of selective insecticides for sucking insect pests and bollworms. Results indicated low population of leafhopper, thrips and whitefly in IPM as compared to RPP. In addition, the cotton hybrids managed by IPM practices supported higher abundance of natural enemies. The incidence of cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) was also less in IPM as compared to RPP module. No bollworm incidence was recorded in any of transgenic cotton hybrid in either of the modules; however IPM and RPP with non-Bt hybrid showed rosette flowers and green boll damage due to pink bollworm, which was less in IPM as compared to RPP. IPM module resulted in low cost of insecticidal sprays and increase in C: B ratio compared to RPP. Furthermore, as the hybrids carrying different events did not differ significantly for the incidence of sucking pests, the IPM module developed was found effective for all hybrids including non Bt cotton hybrid with some revision in the light of bollworm incidence.

Efforts made to evaluate the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) module for shallots through Farmer's Participatory Approach in Tamil Nadu, India, are discussed. The shallot IPM module with special emphasis on nonchemical management components viz., healthy seed bulb selection, seed treatment with bio-pesticides, soil application of bio-pesticides and bio-inputs, growing of barrier crops, installation of sticky traps and pheromone traps, spray application of bio-pesticides, and need-based application of synthetic pesticides were evaluated in large fields in farmers' holdings in six locations during 2009-2012. In all the locations, the IPM fields registered reduced incidence of the major insect pests and diseases viz. onion thrips ( Thrips tabaci L.) (5.99 thrips/plant), leafminer ( Liriomyza sp.) (12.59% damage), tobacco cutworm ( Spodoptera litura F.) (3.51% damage), basal rot ( Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae W. C. Snyder and H. N. Hansen) (3.50% incidence) and purple blotch ( Alternaria porri (Ellis) Cif.) (24.50 Percent Disease Index) compared with farmer's approach registering higher incidence of onion thrips (11.58 thrips/plant), leafminer (19.65% damage), tobacco cutworm (6.22% damage), basal rot (8.14% incidence), and purple blotch (51.6 Percent Disease Index). The IPM fields registered a higher mean bulb yield of 13.81 t/ha with a cost:benefit ratio of 1:3.05 compared with 10.69 t/ha with a cost:benefit ratio of 1:2.47 in farmer's approach. Field days, exhibitions, and demonstrations were organized in all the locations to popularize the shallot IPM module among the growers.

Five Integrated Pest Management (IPM) modules were tested along with untreated control against the foliage feeding insects in rice. Over two years, the IPM module having nursery treatment with fipronil 0.3G @ 20 kg/ha + chlorantraniliprole 0.4G @ 10 kg/ha at 40 days after transplanting + buprofezin 25% SC @ 825 ml/ha foliar spray at 65 days after transplanting proved to be most effective in controlling leaf folder and case worm having highest benefit cost ratio (1.89). The treatment module constituting nursery treatment with fipronil 0.3G @ 20 kg/ha + Trichogramma japonicum + Beauveria bassiana @ 2 lt/ha foliar spray at 30 and 50 days after transplanting + neem seed kernel extract (5%) spray at 65 days after transplanting’ performed second best with respect to leaf folder and caseworm management; however showed superiority in suppressing hispa and whorl maggot, achieved benefit cost ratio (1.71). In the present context of increasing trend of insecticide resistance by the pests and environmental hazards, this experiment had the interesting finding that biopesticides, botanicals and green level pesticides can be a safe alternative which can compensate the efficacy of conventional pesticides in the management of rice insect pests.

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a bio-intensive IPM modules including organic nutrients and botanicals against Spodoptera litura on black gram. The results revealed that combined application of neem cake, installation of pheromone traps, and growing castor as trap crop was found to be effective in reducing the larval population of S. litura (module-3) as compared to untreated check. The highest seed yield of 874 kg/ha and 898 kg/ha was recorded in this module (M-III) with BCR of 1:2.81 and 1:2.70 during kharif 2017 and rabi 2018, respectively followed by module-4.

<p class="abstrakinggris">Bitter gourd, <em>Momordica charantia </em>Linn., is one of the most important traditional vegetable in India. Infestations of sucking pests especially jassid, and whitefly occurred thorough out the crop growth period in the region. For ecofriendly management, different pest management modules <em>viz</em>., bio-intensive, chemical, and integrated modules were evaluated against these sucking pests and compared under field conditions during 2019–2021. Among the three tested modules, the integrated pest management (IPM) comprised seed treatment with imidacloprid @ 5–10 g kg<sup>-1 </sup>of seed, installation of yellow sticky traps @ 25–30 ha<sup>-1</sup>, border crop with maize, spraying of azadirachtin 1500 ppm @ 10 ml L<sup>-1</sup>, thiamethoxam @ 1 g 3<sup>-1</sup> L, imidacloprid @ 1 g 12<sup>-1</sup> L, cyantraniliprole @ 1.8 ml L<sup>-1</sup>, neem oil (0.5%) + <em>Lecanicillium lecanii</em> @ 2.5 g L<sup>-1</sup>, and neem oil (0.5%) + <em>Beauveria bassiana</em> @ 2.5 g L<sup>-1</sup> from 20 to 70 days after sowing at 10 days intervals each harboured lowest whiteflies population (0.63 per leaf) with maximum per cent reduction over control of 70.14. The number of predatory lady bird beetles and polyphagous spiders were also higher. The highest healthy fruit yields (171, 179, and 153 q ha<sup>-1</sup>) were recorded from the IPM module for three consecutive years (2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively). In terms of return, maximum net profit of ₹71,211 was obtained from the IPM module with the highest incremental cost-benefit ratio of 1:5.18. Therefore, the IPM module could be a viable ecofriendly option in the management of the sucking pests of bitter gourd, along with the conservation of natural enemies.</p>