Impact of bio-intensive integrated pest management practices on insect pests and grain yield in basmati rice

Abstract

Bio-intensive pest management practices were compared with farmer's practices and untreated control in basmati rice at village Sahauli (Punjab). BIPM practices involved green manuring; seed treatment; alternate wetting and drying of the field; installation of pheromone traps and bird perches; augmentative releases of Trichogramma spp.; spray of Neem oil 1%. The farmer's practices comprised the applications of chemical insecticides. The mean leaffolder damage was 3.12, 1.90 and 5.41 per cent in BIPM, farmer's practice and untreated control, respectively. The dead heart incidence was 2.49 per cent in BIPM, 1.16 per cent in farmer's practice and 4.30 per cent in untreated control. Similarly, the mean incidence of white earheads was 3.31, 1.78 and 5.06 per cent in BIPM, farmer's practice and untreated control, respectively. Highest grain yield was recorded in farmer's practice fields (30.63 q/ha) followed by yield in BIPM fields (28.07 q/ha). These yields were significantly better than untreated control (25.18 q/ha).The population of natural enemies was higher in BIPM fields as compared to farmer's practiced fields.