Evaluation of IPM Module for the Management of Key Insect Pests in Chilli

Abstract

Chilli is a crop cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of India, and the crop is attacked by a multitude of pests at different crop stages. The present study revealed that field experiments were laid out with three treatments, viz., IPM module, farmer practice, and untreated control, at Kuttiyagoundanur village of Kolathur block of Salem District, Tamil Nadu. The results of the IPM capsule for the management practices of major pests and diseases, including viral diseases in chillies. The pre-treatment count on thrips/leaf was non-significant in all treatments, and it ranged from 7.20 to 8.40 thrips/leaf. Among the three treatments, farmers practice of chemical control recorded less infestation of 2.93 thrips/leaf, followed by the IPM module recording 3.60 thrips/leaf. Before adoption of treatment, the mite/leaf count was between 17.09 and 19.23 mite/leaf. The IPM module recorded less infestation of 5.32 mites/leaf, followed by farmers practice recording 12.90 mites/leaf. The pre-treatment count of Helicoverpa armigera larvae was between 3.20 and 3.72 larvae/plant. Among the treatments, chemical control recorded less infestation of fruit borer and fruit damage (0.17 larvae/plant) and 1.40 percent, followed by the IPM module, which is 1.17 larvae/plant and 4.91 percent. The leaf curl infection was low in farmers practices. 10.82 percent, followed by the IPM module recorded 15.26 percent. Maximum fruit yield of 11200 kg/ha with a comfortable B:C ratio of 2.96 was obtained in the IPM module, followed by farmer practice with a B:C ratio of 2.91.