Effect of some agricultural treatments on the Egyptian alfalfa weevil, Hypera brunneipennis and their economic evaluation on yield and yield components in Egypt

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Egyptian alfalfa weevil, Hypera brunneipennis causes damage on different parts of alfalfa plants. Therefore, four agricultural treatments are carried out included calcium super phosphate addition (15.5% P 2 O 5 ), potassium sulphate addition (50% K 2 O), microelements spraying and hand removing of weeds to reduce the population of the Egyptian alfalfa weevil and increase both the final yield and obtain a healthy plant. RESULTS:The treatment of calcium super phosphate (15.5% P 2 O 5 ), potassium sulphate (50% K 2 O), microelements spraying and hand removing of weeds gave less infestation of Egyptian alfalfa weevil [4.38 and 4.89 (larvae and adults/m 2 )] and the highest total fresh (70.08 and 74.52 ton/feddan), dry yield (19.37 and 19.70 ton/feddan) and plant height yield (60.00 and 61. 17 cm) in first and second seasons, respectively, with significant differences compared with the other treatments and the untreated check. Also, the same treatment gave the highest net benefit over untreated check 29.06 and 31.93 (thousand L.E./feddan) and net benefit/costs ratio/feddan (1.77 and 2.22) in first and second seasons, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Good agricultural treatments of calcium super phosphate addition (15.5% P 2 O 5 ), potassium sulphate addition (50% K 2 O), microelements spraying and hand removing of weeds play an important role in obtaining a healthy plant, reducing Egyptian alfalfa weevil infestation, and increasing total fresh yield, total dry yield, and plant height of alfalfa.

Parasitoids and Predators of Egyptian Alfalfa Weevil Hypera brunnipennis (Boheman) at Kafr El-Sheik and Gharbia Regions

“…Several authors recorded the insect pests in their samples from clover fields in Egypt. Among them are Rakha( 2008) at KAfr El-sheikh, Awadalla et al (2014) at Dakahlia Governorate and Kandil et al, (2023) at Nubaria, Beheira Governorate.…”

“…Due to the several problems of insecticide applications against insect pests, in general, and against clover insects in particular, it has become necessary to minimize such applications, and apply safe alternative methods. Kandil et al, (2023) in the clover fields recommended optimum fertilizer treatments in clover fields to encourage clover plants to withstand the damage of H. brunnipennis and they concluded that balanced application of calcium superphosphate, potassium sulphate, micronutrients, as well as weed control has improved clover growth and reduced the activity of the weevil. However, biological control agents proved to have relative efficiencies against larvae and adults of the weevil (Alizadeh 2017).…”