Impact of Coriander Intercropping on the Incidence of Defoliator, Spoladea recurvalis Fabricius in Amaranthus

The investigation on the impact of coriander CO (CR) 4 intercropping with the clipping type of amaranthus (CO3) for managing the defoliator, Spoladea recurvalis Fabricius was conducted in two different locations. To assess the influence of coriander and its repellency effects in varied planting ratio of amaranthus and coriander viz., 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, and 5:1 were evaluated along with amaranthus sole crop. The results obtained on the aspects of amaranthus plant height, number of branches per plant, number of larvae per plant, percent foliage infestation, and total green yield clearly indicated that there is no more negative impact on the plant height aspect was registered due to intercropping with coriander crop. Among the different ratios evaluated, the highest plant height was observed and registered in the 5:1 ratio of planting, which is significantly higher than amaranthus sole crop. In the aspect of the number of branches per plant, the 1:1 and 2:1 ratio recorded the highest number of branches compared with the 4:1 and 5:1 ratio. It was considering the number of larvae per plant and percent foliage infestation 2:1 and 3:1 ratio of planting registered the lowest larval population (1.22-1.45/plant) and foliage infestation with the higher average yield of 31.79 and 30.02 tonnes/hectare (sum of 10 clippings) when compared with amaranthus sole crop cultivation. Among the varied ratio evaluated, the 2:1 and 3:1 ratio of amaranthus : coriander planting was found to be better in registering the lowest percent foliage infestation (10.52-11.25%) with a higher yield (30.02-31.79 tonnes/ha.). • Amaranthus defoliator, Spoladea recurvalis is the major Lepidopteran in causing 50-70 % reduction in yield. • Indiscriminate use of pesticide in amaranth is of great risk to the consumers’ health as well as leads to the environmental hazard. • Identification of alternative management strategies viz., use of botanicals, intercropping, trap cropping, etc. may aid to lessen pesticide usage in amaranthus.