Seasonal Incidence of Major Insect Pests of Chilli and Their Correlation with Weather Parameters
Arundhati Borgohain *
Department of Entomology, Biswanath College of Agriculture, Biswanath Chariali, Assam Agricultural University, India.
Prarthna Rajkumari
Department of Entomology, Biswanath College of Agriculture, Biswanath Chariali, Assam Agricultural University, India.
Nirmali Borah
Department of Entomology, Biswanath College of Agriculture, Biswanath Chariali, Assam Agricultural University, India.
Birinchi Kumar Borah
Department of Entomology, Biswanath College of Agriculture, Biswanath Chariali, Assam Agricultural University, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Study Design: Randomised Block Design (RBD) with three (3) replications.
Place and Duration of Study: Biswanath College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Assam,India. The experiment was conducted during Rabi 2022-23.
Methodology: Suryamukhi variety of chilli from packages of practices for Organic crops of Assam was used for this investigation. Three sucking pests viz, Aphis gossypii, Scirtothrips dorsalis, Amrasca biguttula biguttula and one fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera was found infesting the chilli plants. Weather parameters such as maximum temperature, minimum temperature, average relative humidity, rainfall and bright sunshine hours were correlated with the insect populations.
Results: Aphids were positively correlated with sunshine hours (r=0.503*), thrips showed negative correlation with average relative humidity (r= -0.620*), jassids had a negative correlation with minimum temperature (r=-0.701*) and fruit borer showed negative correlation with sunshine hours (r= -0625**). Rainfall had no significant effect on incidence of pest population in chilli.
Conclusion: Insect pest populations are highly influenced by weather parameters. Through this research we can develop new pest management strategies according to their appearance and peak activity period.
Keywords: Chilli, Suryamukhi, thrips, aphids, jassid, population dynamics, correlation