Seasonal incidence of major insect pests in maize with intercrops under marigold farmscaping

Abstract

Two years studies on “the seasonal incidence of the major insect pests in maize with intercrops under marigold farmscaping” showed that the sap feeding insect pests like the aphids, jassids and whiteflies were observed from the first week of August until harvest. The mean atmospheric temperature indicated significant positive correlation with some of the insect pests of maize and the pulse intercrops during both years; while the mean relative humidity evinced a significant negative correlation with the whitefly population on pulse crops during 1st year; whereas, during 2nd year, the mean atmospheric temperature as well as the mean relative humidity showed a significant positive correlation with some of the insect pests. During the two successive crop seasons, significantly low insect pest populations were recorded under the marigold farmscaping treatment. The mean population of maize aphid was significantly more in maize sole (14.56 & 26.59), maize + cowpea (13.53 & 20.84) and maize + blackgram (12.74 & 25.80) without seed treatment; likewise, the mean populations of jassids, whitefly and legume aphid were significantly higher in maize + cowpea, maize + blackgram with and without seed treatment the coccinellid populations were significantly higher under marigold farmscaping during both the years.