The intensity of attacks and the use of insecticides by farmers in controlling soybeans pests for various agroecosystems in South Sulawesi

Abstract

The types of pests that attack many soybean plants in South Sulawesi are armyworms, aphids, pod suckers and pod borer. This study aims to determine the level of pest attack and the use of insecticides at the farm level of soybeans. Inventory research on the intensity of major soybean attacks was carried out in 2016/2017 in many agroecosystems/vegetation spread across 3 districts, Wajo, Jeneponto, and Bulukumba Districts. The three districts are centers of soybean cultivation with diverse agroecosystems/vegetation. The results achieved showed that the intensity of the main soybean attack was highest in the monoculture vegetation (Wajo District), respectively Spodoptera litura armyworm (45.65%), pod borer (Etienlla zinkenella) (31.26%), aphids (20.15% ), and pod suckers (26.13%). Whereas in the polyculture area of coconut + soybean plants (Bulukumba Regency), the rate of pest attacks were respectively: armyworm &S.litura (22.13%), pod borer, E. zinkenella (18.12%), aphis (10. 12%), and pod suckers (16.19%). In the polyculture area of palm + chilli + soybean (Jeneponto Regency), the rate of pest attacks were: S. litura armyworm pest (19.11%), pod borer (15.17%), aphids (14.28% ), and pod suckers (11.13%). The highest use of insecticides in monoculture agroecosystems (8.1 l ha −1 per season) and the lowest in soybean + chilli + palm tree agroecosystems (1.5 l −1 per season). Polyculture farming on soybeans will reduce the use of insecticides at the farm level, so as to create an environmentally friendly agricultural model compared to monoculture agroecosystem.