Integrated Pest Management Strategies for Eco-Friendly Control of Okra Shoot and Fruit Borer under Climate Variability

Abstract

The prevalent weather conditions in a region have a significant impact on the occurrence and subsequent growth of pest populations. For the creation of a successful pest management programme, understanding pest behaviour and population dynamics in relation to meteorological parameters is a crucial prerequisite. The study aims to evaluate the comparative efficacy of different bio-pesticides against Okra shoot and fruit borer (Earias spp.) under organic farming conditions in the Bundelkhand region, with a focus on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies for eco-friendly pest control. The field experiment was laid out during Kharif season 2022-23, at instructional cum research farm located at the Experimental, Organic Research farm kargunwa ji Jhansi, Department of Entomology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh), India. The okra variety ‘Shalini’ was sown comprising a total of 9 treatments with 3 replications under Randomised block design (RBD) with 3.0 m x 2.10 m (Gross) and 1.8 m x 1.8 m (Net). The observation for minimum infestation intensity (%), for scale-1 (1 bore/fruit), scale-2 (2-3 bore/fruit) scale-3, (>3 bore/fruit), and mean intensity per cent of Okra shoot and fruit borer, Eariasvittella F. was recorded under the treatment T5 (Bacillus thuringiensisvar.Kurstaki @ 0.05%). The maximum yield of okra was recorded highest when sprayed with bio-pesticides under the treatment T5 (Bacillus thuringiensisvar.Kurstaki @ 0.05%) followed by the next best for maximum was recorded highest when sprayed with bio-pesticides under the treatment T4 (Metarrhiziumanisoplae @ 0.05%), and were recorded highest when sprayed with bio-pesticides under the treatment T2 (Beauveria bassiana @ 0.05%). However, the minimum yield of okra was recorded lowest without being sprayed with bio-pesticides.