Seasonal patterns of insect pest in major pigeonpea and chickpea growing agro-climatic zones of India and their management inferences

Abstract

A pest scout data in pigeonpea (leaf webber, plume moth, pod borer) and chickpea (pod borer) crops including daily insect pest counts for three successive seasons (2015/16—2017/18) at western and eastern plateau hills (agro-climatic zones) of India was analysed for spatio-temporal dynamics. Longer infestation (different crop phenological growth stages) behaviour of leaf webber and pod borer in pigeonpea and chickpea, respectively influenced their increased mean counts (incidence). Weekly mean counts of leaf webber, plume moth and pod borer in both the crops varied significantly between the seasons. Linear incremental change in mean counts of leaf webber and pod borer on pigeonpea and chickpea, respectively was observed across the seasons (interseasonal). Intra-seasonal built-up of plume moth (pigeonpea) and pod borer (pigeonpea and chickpea) mean counts was also noticed. On pigeonpea, leaf webber and plume moth mean counts never reached an economic threshold level (3 larvae/plant), but crossed the advisory level (1.5 larvae/plant). It was observed that there was incremental rise in pod borer mean counts and crossing economic threshold level over seasons in chickpea (1 larvae/m row length), while it was not the case in pigeonpea (1 larvae/ plant). Furthermore, survival and management strategies of leaf webber, plume moth and pod borer in pigeonpea and pod borer in chickpea were discussed