Vol. 12, Issue 5 (2023)

Author(s):
Valluru Manju Vani, Kalapureddy Revathi and P Srilatha

Abstract:
Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important commercial crop in India. Though India is the highest in production, consuming and export of chilli, the productivity of the crop is decreasing day by day mainly due to incidence of sucking pests (transmit viral diseases) and fruit borers. Chilli thrips, mites, aphids, Spodoptera and Helicoverpa are the major pests responsible for considerable yield loss. IPM and non-IPM (famer’s practice) practices were evaluated in ten different villages of Krishna district at 15 locations under KVK, Ghantasala for sustainable management of these pests. Experimental findings revealed that the IPM practices proved superior in managing the insect pests and recorded higher fruit yields and quality than non IPM practices (i.e., use of only chemicals/pesticides) with reduced cost of cultivation in IPM plots when compared to non IPM practices. The benefit cost ratio was found to be 1.99, 1.99 and 1.79 in IPM treated plots when compared to 1.54, 1.49 and 1.40 in check plots during 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively.