Abstract
The effect of pulse intercrops on some borer pests of sugarcane and general predators was examined in two field studies. In a replicated experiment with black gram, cowpea, green gram and soybean as intecrops, the incidence of shoot borerChilo infuscatellus Snellen (Leptidoptera : Crambidae) did not differ significantly amongst the different combinations and control. The incidence of top borerScirpophaga excerptalis Wlk. (Lepidoptera : Pyralidae) was negligible in all combinations. Counts of predators, comprising spiders and coccinellids, showed marginal differences. In the second study at farmers’ fields, shoot borer incidence was significantly higher in 25 days and 65 days old sugarcane-soybean diculture plots than in sugarcane monocrop plots of corresponding age; the differences were not significant in a 30 days old crop. Mean predator numbers did not differ significantly between intercrop and monocrop in these three plots. The importance of factors such as crop combination, temporal and spatial patterns of planting, agronomic suitability, etc. in sugarcane-based ploycultures for sugarcane pest management is discussed.
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Srikanth, J., Easwaramoorthy, S. & Kurup, N.K. Borer and predator incidence in sugarcane intercropped with pulses. Sugar Tech 2, 36–39 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02945742
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02945742