IPM: A technology to conserve biological control agents in maize
2012
Chaudhary, Neelam | Saharawat, Y S | Kumar, Pradyumn
Integrated pest management (IPM) integrating chemical and biological control measures helps in reducing pest infestation, improves yield, biodiversity and sustainability in maize crop. In current study, the IPM strategy for maize was developed and validated in the four blocks of Hoshiarpur district of Punjab. Chilo partellus was recorded as the major pest of kharif maize causing considerable economic loss. The chemical control measures destroyed the population of biological control agents. Along with other components of IPM, Trichogramma chilonis, an egg parasitoid of C. partellus was released to decimate its population in the egg stage. The number of infested plants by C. partellus in IPM field did not exceed 4% whereas in farmer's field the number of infested plants reached up to 12%. Relatively higher population of natural enemies such as spiders, coccinellids, Paederus sp. and Cotesia sp. were observed in the maize ecosystem and these contributed in controlling the pest population. The study revealed that maize yield was 66.2% more in IPM field as compared to farmers’ field. Overall, in farmer participatory field trials, the study revealed that IPM helped in controlling the pest population as well improving the biodiversity by maintaining the population of biological control agents.
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