Abstract:
A study was conducted during Rabi 2010-11 and 2011- 12 using maize (
Zea mays L.) plants as barrier for blocking migrating adult thrips in onion (
Allium cepa L.) under All India Network Research Project on Onion and Garlic, Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Muzaffarpur, (Dr. RPCAU, Pusa) to evaluate the IPM modules for the management of onion thrips (
Thrips tabaci L.). Three modules were designed as M1-IPM module, M2-farmer practices and M3- control plot and laid out in RBD. IPM module plot comprised of outer row of maize + inner row of wheat on all four sides in an area of 250 m2 (40 beds of 3.0 × 2.0 m.). The results obtained over two years indicated that both M
1 and M
2 not only significantly reduced the thrips population (22.36 and 20.12 thrips plant
-1) but also increased total marketable yield (26.30and 26.91 tha
-1), respectively over the control, M
3 (43.85 thrips plant
-1 and 15.41 tha
-1) . Higher BC Ratieo was recorded in M
1 (3.27) than M
2 (2.78). It may be concluded that adoption of IPM module approach consisting of planting of border crop of two rows maize and wheat, 20 days prior to planting, seedling dip treatment with Carbosulfan and need based insecticides spray, when thrips population exceed ETL (30 thrips plant
-1) not only reduces the thrips infestation but also increases the bulb yield with quality bulbs in onion.