Incidence of sugarcane shoot borer under different levels of weed competition, crop geometry, intercropping and nutrient supply systems

Abstract

The effect of selected agronomic practices on the incidence of sugarcane shoot borerChilo infuscatellus Snellen (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) was examined. In an experiment on critical periods of crop-weed competition, wherein sugarcane crop was maintained with different weed regimes, the incidence of borer was significantly lower in weedy crop than in weed-free crop. The study suggested that crop-weed vegetational diversity maintained up to 75DAP may reduce shoot borer populations. In the experiment on crop geometry - intercrop combinations with three planting patterns and four intercrops, shoot borer incidence showed non-significant differences. Similarly, in the trial on nutrient supply systems that included combinations of organic manure, green manure, sugarcane trash, biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer as sources of nutrients, shoot borer incidence showed non-significant differences.