Pigeonpea is an important crop cultivated in the rainy season (Kharif crop). Insect pests feeding on flowers, pods, and seeds are the most important biotic constraint affecting Pigeonpea yields so proper identification and management of pests should be adopted for the protection of crop.
Major Pests of Pigeonpea are:-
S.No. |
Pests of Pigeonpea |
|
| 1. | Gram pod borer |  |
| 2. | Blue butterfly |  |
| 3. | Grass blue butterfly |  |
| 4. | Plume moth |  |
| 5. | Spotted pod borer |  |
| 6. | Spiny pod borer |  |
| 7. | Field bean pod borer |  |
| 8. | Tur pod fly |  |
| 9. | Stem fly |  |
| 10. | Sterility mite |  |
Integrated Pest Management Practices in Pigeon Pea:
- Deep ploughing during summer to expose the hibernating pupae to adverse weather conditions and natural enemies.
- Mixing of sorghum/maize seeds (250 g/ha) to function as live bird perches. These plants also help in conserving natural enemies.
- Installation of pheromone traps @ 5/ha.
- Application of HaNPV @ 250 LE/ha.
- Spraying of botanical insecticide – Neem 1500 ppm @ 2000 ml/ha.
- Manual picking/ collection of blister beetles using insect nets and destroys them.
- Spraying of synthetic pyrethroids, Cypermethrin @ 1ml/litre protects the crop from Beetle damage.
- Application of Spinosad or imidacloprid gives control upon pod bug damage.
- Spraying of quinalphos 25% EC @ is effective against pod fly and pod borer.
- Spray ovicide – Profenophos 50 EC @ 2000 ml/ ha.
- Spraying of effective molecule like Indoxacarb 14.5 SC % @ 300 ml/ha or Emamectin benzoate 5% SG @ 11 a.i gm/ha or Spinosad 45 SC @ 56-73 a.i gm/ha is effective against Pod borer complex.
Source-
- TNAU Agritech Portal
- Krishisewa.com
