Optimizing control of flea beetles through ecological engineering of vegetable agroecosystem in Kashmir

Abstract

Ecological engineering is a concept of habitat manipulation to reduce dependence on insecticides. It is the intentional involvement of plant communities and insectary plants in managed landscapes influencing natural enemies survival. These natural enemies lead to reduction in pest population in environmentally acceptable production practices. Field experiments were conducted during 2019 and 2020 to evaluate impact of ecological engineering on the flea beetles, P. striolata and A. himensis and their natural enemies on brinjal crop. Three treatments with different plant species were worked out for pest management study. Results showed that Treatment I caused maximum increase in mean number of natural enemies (1.11/ 10 plants) which in turn brought maximum mean pest reduction. Treatment II caused second maximum increase in mean number of natural enemies (0.92/ 10 plants). Treatment III caused minimum increase in mean number of natural enemies (0.68/ 10 plants). The diversity of predators was documented in different treatments. Simpson’s diversity index, Shannon-Weiner index and Evenness index were found higher in Treatment I followed by Treatment II and Treatment III. The maximum mean % increase of natural enemies in main crop over control (250.52 %) with maximum mean % reduction of target pest (63.46 %) was observed in Treatment I. The mean % increase of natural enemies in main crop over control (167.44 %) with mean % reduction of target pest (54.41 %) was observed in Treatment II. The mean % increase of natural enemies in main crop over control (20.97%) with mean % reduction of target pest (48.88%) was observed in Treatment III.

Farmers’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding the Use of Agroecological-Based Pest Management Practices in Crucifers and Traditional African Vegetable (TAV) Production in Kenya and Tanzania

“…Farmers who employed intercropping farming frequently utilized certain crops to repel pests, but these same crops were also found to attract pests. Similar findings were reported by Masqood et al, who found that the most effective method for controlling flea beetles on Brinjal (eggplant) involves the use of coriander as an attractant intercrop and onion as a repellant buffer crop [69]. Similarly, Iamba and Yaubi also used marigolds to attract cabbage flea beetles [70].…”

Role of habitat manipulation for pest management in tomato

“…Marigold plants (Tagetes erecta) as border crop in rice attracted a significant population of natural enemies complex (5.17) which resulted in a significant drop in pest complex abundance (3.00) (Iamba et al, 2021). The maximum mean per cent reduction of Phyllotreta striolata and Altica himensis was 63.46 per cent in the main crop and the maximum mean per cent increase of natural enemies with 250.52 per cent was recorded in the main crop over the control plot when brinjal was integrated with insectary plants, trap crops along with other non-host crops to optimize the control of flea beetles (Maqsood et al, 2022). Field experiments in Pigeonpea with seven different border crops for Maurica vitrata management revealed that the crop bordered with Sorghum recorded lowest M. vitrata larval webbing per plant and highest per cent, decrease in larval webbing per plant (2.05 and 60.95 respectively), highest per cent increase in natural enemies i.e.…”

Natural farming

“…54 This system of intercropping is based on the hypothesis of "Resource Concentration", where plant-feeding insects are more likely to identify and live in clusters of their host plants which are dense and less diversified. 55 Likewise, Maqsood et al (2022) 46 analyzed the ecological engineering impacts on the flea beetles, Phyllotreta striolata and Altica himensis and their natural enemies on the eggplant crop. The findings showed the greatest percent enhancement of natural enemies in the main crop over control (250.52 %), with the highest mean % decline of the target pest population (63.46 %) noticed in Treatment I.…”