EFFECT OF CLIMATIC FACTORS ON DIVERSITY OF LEPIDOPTERAN INSECT PESTS ON CASHEW IN CHHATTISGARH

K.R. SAHU¹*, B.C. SHUKLA², R.R. SAXENA^3
1Senior Scientist & Head, ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jabar, Balrampur, 497 119, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, 492012, Chhattisgarh, India
²Ex-Professor & Head, Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Raipur, 492001, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, 492012, Chhattisgarh, India
³Professor & ADR, Department of Statistics, College of Agriculture, Raipur, 492001, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, 492012, Chhattisgarh, India
* Corresponding Author : khoobi_ento@yahoo.co.in

Received : 27-04-2018     Accepted : 05-05-2018     Published : 15-05-2018
Volume : 10     Issue : 9       Pages : 5897 - 5900
Int J Agr Sci 10.9 (2018):5897-5900

Keywords : Cashew, lepidoteran insects, abiotic factors, climatic factors, weather parameters
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Author are thankful to Dr M.G. Bhat, Former Director, Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur, Karnataka for technical guideline and support. We are also thankful to Director Research Services, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, 492012, Chhattisgarh for facilitating for research. Authors are also thankful to Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, 492012, Chhattisgarh.
Author Contribution : All author equally contributed

Cashew (Anacardium occidantale L.) is high remunerative crop of India. But, production of raw nut is not fulfilling the requirement of the processing industries. Chhattisgarh is a tribal state and Bastar is one of the biggest tribal districts to have around 40,000 hectares suitable for cashew plantation. There are various factors responsible for low yield in cashew, in which the insect pest problem is major one. To study the diversity of leaf feeding lepidopteran insect pests a survey conducted by scientists of S.G. College of Agriculture & Research Station, IGKV, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, India during 2007 and 2008 in randomly selected trees in cashew plantation in the surrounding areas of District Bastar, Chhattisgarh and their intensities in forest plantation were recorded at weekly intervals. The leaf caterpillar damage (33.14 % mean damage) was noticed throughout the year with relatively higher damage during November-December. The maximum temperature and evaporation were influenced negatively the leaf caterpillar damages; while, relative humidity and vapour pressure (II) had positively correlated. The leaf folder was observed (17.14 % mean damage) round the year with maximum in November to January. Leaf folder damage was negatively influenced with maximum temperature, minimum temperature, wind velocity and evaporation; whereas, relative humidity was correlated positively. The leaf miner mean damage observed (9.20%) almost throughout with the peak in November. The maximum temperature and evaporation was negatively correlated with leaf miner; while, relative humidity and vapour pressure (I) were influenced positively. The leaf and blossom webber was appeared (1.54% mean damage) but its damage was seen almost round year. Leaf & Blossom Webber damage was correlated negatively with maximum temperature, evaporation and bright sunshine (hours); while, relative humidity was influenced positively. While, some insect pests present in cashew plantation as minor pests which were: inflorescence caterpillar (0.28 % mean damage) observed during reproductive stage, Semilooper appeared intermittently with peak (0.06 numbers) in November-December, slug caterpillar was appeared in spring and cooler season. The activity of Inflorescence Caterpillar was positively influenced with maximum temperature and evaporation; whereas, relative humidity (morning and evening) were negatively correlated.

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