Population dynamics and economic thresholds based time series for smart pest management of sesame

Abstract

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is the oldest and most important oilseed crop throughout the world. But its productivity is extremely low due to several insect pests infesting at various stages of the crop. Pest ecology and economic thresholds (ETs) based time series of six generalist pests, Diacrisia casignetum, Spilosoma obliqua, Spodoptera litura, Spilarctia luteum, Helicoverpa armigera and Plutella xylostella, were determined on sesame during 2018–2020. Their nutritional ecology and population dynamics were significantly affected by the host phytoconstituents. The ETs varied between 4-27insects/m2 for the different insects with H. armigera having the highest ET and S. obliqua with the lowest one. All the production values including benefit cost ratios (BCRs) and carbon sequestration efficiencies (CSEs) were significantly higher in control plants (without any pest) compared to infested plants regardless of insect species. Thus, crop parameters including production values and CSEs were changed according to specific pest infestation depending on their respective food utilization efficiency and population growth rate. Even, this study will also inform about the susceptibility and or severity of sesame cultivar (Rama) towards the selected pests for their judicious management by using ETs based time series to support climate smart pest management (CSPM) of sesame in near future.