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arnataka J. Agric. Sci.,18(1):(154-156) 2005
Integration of Neem Cake in the Plant Protection Schedule for Thrips
and Mite Management in Chilli (cv. Byadagi)*
India is one of the foremost producers
and exporters of chilli Capsicum annuum L. In
Karnataka, thrips, mite and whiteflies have been
identified as sucking pests of which leaf curl
caused by mite and thrips are serious
(Puttarudraiah, -1959), with an estimated yield
loss of 50 per cent (Kandasamy et al.,1990).
Spraying with dimethoate and dicofol has been
the recommendation in Kamataka since a decade
for the thrips and mite and continued usage of
these pesticides has lead to pest resurgence,
pest secondary outbreak, destruction of natural
enemies, environmental pollution etc. Besides,
the problem of pesticide residues in chilli fruits
(Joia et al., 2001) in the recent past has become
the non-tariff barrier for export of chilli to developed
countries. Hence reduction of usage of toxic
pesticide is need of the day. The present
investigation was therefore carried out to evaluate
whether neem cake soil application could
manage leaf curl caused by thrips and mite and
result in reduction of usage of chemical
pesticides.
A statistically designed field experiment
in RBD with three replications was laid out during
kharif 2002 at Main Agricultural Research Station,
Dharwad to study the prospects of integrating
neem cake in the plant protection schedule for
thrips and mite management in chilli crop.
Seedlings of chilli (Cv. Byadagi) were transplanted
during first week of August in plots of size 30 M2
with spacing of 90 x 90 cm. All the management
practices except the plant protection against
thrips and mite were followed as per the
recommended package of practices (RPP)
evolved by UAS, Dharwad. In the experiment
neem cake @ 500 kg/ha and its combined use
with 50% RDF and different spray schedules of
RPP were evaluated vis thrips and mite. A
chemical check with 100% RDF and an untreated
*Part of M.Sc (Agri.) thesis submitted by the senior author to the University of Agricultl!ral Sciences, Dharwad-580 005
check with no application of fertilizer and
chemicals were maintained for comparison of
efficacy of treatments. The insecticidal/acaricidal
check sprays were given at 2nd, 5th, 7th and 11th
week after transplanting (WAT). After soil
application of neem cake before transplanting (T1),
the different spray schedules given to the crop
were - (a) One spray at 2nd WAT (dimethoate 30
EC), (b) Two sprays at 2nd and 5th WAT
(dimethoate 30 EC), (c) Three sprays at 2nd 5th
and 7th WAT (2 sprays of dimethoate and one
spray of dicofol 18.5 EC + carbaryl), (d) Four
sprays at 2nd ,5th ,7th and 11th WAT (2 sprays of
dimethoate and 2 sprays of dicofol + carbaryl).
Thrips and mite count per leaf were taken
at 70 DAT and 100 DAT and average count was
worked out. The population was assessed by
counting their numbers under stereo binocular
microscope in laboratory. Terminal six leaves of
five randomly selected plants in each plot for
population and 10 plants for leaf curl symptoms
were observed. The leaf curl was assessed in 0-
4 scale indicating 1-25,26-50,51-76 and >76 per
cent curling of leaves. Leaf curl index (LCI) was
calculated taking the sum of the product of
number of plants and concerned category score
and dividing the sum by the total number of plants
scored. Dry chilli yield, activity of predatory mite
and coccinellid beetle were also recorded.
The data obtained were statistically
analysed for RBD after V x+1 transformation for
thrips and mite population and Vx+0.5
transformation for predatory mite and coccinellid
beetle. Soil application of neem cake (T1) as well
as its integration with schedule of chemical
sprays (T2 to T5) recorded significantly lower
density of thrips comparable to chemical check
and significantly superior to untreated crop. T1 +
4S and T1 + 3S recorded lowest mite density and
155
Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences : 18 (1), 2005
Table 1. Effect of mean cake and its combined use with chemical sprays on the activity of thrips, mite and natural enemies and yield
S.No. Treatments Thrips number Mite number Leaf curl Predatory mites Predatory Dry chilli
index 1 Amblyseius sp. beetle yield q/ha
1. Neem cake @ 500 0.42a0.650 0.560 0.24a0.23a3.68b
kg/ha + 50% RDF (T1) (1.193) (1.284) (0.862) (0.854)
2. T1 + one spray of RPP 0.31a0.52bc 0.44 0.18ab 0.21ab 3.95b
(1.146) (1.231) (0.824) (0.842)
3. T1+two sprays of RPP 0.20a0.49bc 0.30b0.07bc 0.1bc 3.54b
(1.096) (1.221) (0.754) (0.715)
4. T1+three sprays of RPP 0.17a 0.30ab 0.24ab 0.0c 0.06c 4.76a
(1.080) (1.141) (0.707) (0.747)
5. T1+ four sprays of RPP 0.13a0.17a0.18a0.02c0.02c4.96a
(1.065) (1.081) (0.721) (0.721)
6. RPP (dimethoate 30 EC 0.12a0.16a0.20a0.02c 0.02c 5.10a
and dicofol 18.5 EC) + 100% RDF (1.058) 1.018) (0.721) (0.721)
7. Untreated check 0.80b1.39d1.32e0.28a0.25a
(1.343) (1.545) (0.883) (0.865) 1.25C
SEm± 0.049 0.038 0.023 0.026 0.025 0.18
CD (0.05) 0.151 0.117 0.071 0.080 0.078 0.55
RDF- Recommended dose of fertilizer
Means in the column followed by same letter are not significantly different by DMRT
156
was comparable to the standard chemical check,
while T1 + 1S and T1+ 2S recorded higher counts
of mites. The unsprayed crop harboured
significantly higher population of mite. T1+ 3 and
4 sprays were as effective as check, thus
indicating that 25 per cent of chemical and 50
per cent of fertilizers could be avoided. Similarly,
T1 + 3 and 4 sprays to the crop resulted in
registering significantly lower LCI and being
comparable to standard check. This was closely
followed by T1 + two sprays. There is no literature
available to indicate the effect of combined
treatment of neem cake and chemical sprays in
reducing pest activity or crop damage. However,
the efficacy of neem cake in reducing chilli mite
population and its damage on crop was reported
by Smitha (2002). The sucking pest suppressing
activity of neem cake in other crops have also
been reported (Balasubramanian and
Muralibhaskaran, 2000).
Significantly higher number of predatory
mite population was recorded in untreated plot
followed by neem cake applied plot (T1) and its
combination T1 + one spray. Almost no predatory
mites were recorded in plot which received T1 +3S
and T1 + 4S indicating toxicity of chemicals. The
coccinellid beetles were found to be maximum in
untreated plot followed by neem cake applied plot
(T1) and T1 + 1S and were at par with each other,
thus reflecting positive effect of neem cake on
predator activity.
Neem cake combined with four and three
sprays, respectively in the crop resulted in higher
red chilli yield and was at par with RPP which
registered numerically highest dry chilli yield of
5.10 q/ha. The treatment receiving neem cake
soil application and three sprays of RPP recorded
same yield as that of RPP implying that one
chemical spray and 50 per cent of inorganic
fertilizer could be avoided in the crop ecosystem.
Similarly, combined application of neem cake and
one to two rounds of spray being next in the order,
could be considered as promising from the point
of ecosystem and quality red chilli production.
There is no much literature to indicate the effect
of scheduled application of neem cake and
chemical sprays on crop vigour and yield, but
quite a few reports that have been discussed
already in the present study suggest the
promotional effect of neem cake on yield.
Department of Agricultural Entomology
University of Agricultural Sciences,
Dharwad-580 005
(Received: January, 2004)
References
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R.K.,2000, Influence of organic amendments
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JOIA, B.S. JASWINDER KAUR AND UDEAAN, A.S.,
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green chilli. Proceedings of Second National
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(IPM) in Horticultural Crops: New Molecules.
Biopesticides and Environment, Bangalore,
17-19 October, 2001, pp.174-175.
KANDASAMY, C., MOHANSUNDARAM, M. AND
KARUPPACHAMY, P., 1990, Evaluation of
insecticides for the control of thrips.
Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood in chillies
(Capsicum annuum L.). Madras Agricultural
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PUTTARUDRAIAH, M.,1959, Short review on the
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SMITHA, M.S., 2002, Management of yellow mite
Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Acari:
Tarsonemidae) on chilli. M.Sc. (Agri.) thesis,
University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad.
Integration of Neem cake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
THANIA SARA VARGHESE
R.S.GIRADDI