Impact of intercropping system to minimise the sucking pests incidence in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea linnaeus)

Abstract

Field experiment was carried out during 2014 – 2015 at DARS, Chettinad, Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu to find out cost-effective groundnut based inter-cropping system for the management of key insect pests. Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea Linnaeus; Variety: VRI II) when intercropped with bajra (Pennisetum glaucum L.; Variety: Co 7), maize (Zea mays L.; Variety; Co 6) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.; Variety: Co 30) 4:1 ratio harboured significantly less mean population of sucking pests viz. leafhopper, Empoasca kerri Pruthi, Aphids, Aphis craccivora Koch and Thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood recording 23.05, 24.81 and 25.47 nos./10 plants, 21.27, 23.52 and 22.44 nos./2.5 cm shoot and 11.15, 12.62 and 12.19 nos./5 leaflet respectively, whereas intercropping with redgram (Cajanus cajan L.; Variety: VBN (Rg) 3), marigold (Tagetes erecta L.; Variety: MDU 1), sesame (Sesamum indicum L.; Variety: Co 1) and onion (Allium cepa L.; Variety: Co 1) recorded high mean population as compared to other cropping systems while groundnut as pure crop recorded the highest mean population of 33.14 nos./10 plants, 33.22 nos./2.5 cm shoot and 19.00 nos./5 leaflet respectively.