Concept of bio-intensification of orchard for pest management (BIOPM) in mango

The concept of bio-intensified orchard proposes effective balance of pests and beneficial organisms in an ecological context. Mango orchards are the permanent ecosystems, akin to forest ecosystems, with certain human interventions. However the pest population is not in equilibrium in orchard ecosystems as observed in undisturbed forests. Needless to say that the natural balance is disturbed in the orchard ecology due to regular cultivation practices. However the fruit orchards are meant to yield economic levels of quality produce unlike forests. Hence there is a need to strike a balance for appropriation of various interventions for suppression of insect pests, which can be achieved through orchard biointensification. However, detailed scientific scrutiny or models on this aspect are yet to be proposed in Indian context. Orchard bio-intensification requires a shift in research focus and approach with a knowledge base far more different than conventional IPM. The orchard bio-intensification concept envisages habitat modification for beneficial organisms, development of healthy and biologically active soils, maintaining uncultivated lands for diversity of flora and fauna, developing entomophage parks within orchard for food and shelter to diverse beneficial insects, weed strips, hedge rows, wind breaks, inter crops and conservation of insect bio diversity. Mass emergence devices for in situ and laboratory reared natural enemies, reduced direct mortality or interference to natural enemies, botanicals and laboratory reared/mass cultured bio-agents would have added advantage in bio-intensified orchard. This may be most useful in situations where the potentially effective natural enemies have become ineffective due to biotic or abiotic factors and the pests cannot be satisfactorily (economically and/or environmentally) controlled by other methods. It may be most popular among organic growers and has potential especially in fruit orchards. This bio-intensive approach needs building the knowledge and information infrastructure by making changes in research and education priorities in order to emphasize ecology-based pest management and redesign orchard management programs to promote BIOPM. The concept of bio-intensification in mango orchard has been highlighted in present paper wherein, attempts have been made to synthesise the old concept of diversity with new ideas.