1Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai-625 104, India
2Dryland Agricultural Research Station, Chettinad-630 102, (T.N.), India
Department of Agricultural Entomology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai-625 104, India
Online published on 29 February, 2016.
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea cv. VRI II when intercropped with bajra (Pennisetum glaucum cv. Co 7) 4: 1 ratio harboured significantly less mean population of defoliators viz.Amsacta albistriga, Spodoptera litura and Helicoverpa armigera, recording 6.28, 6.72 and 5.44 larvae/10 plants, respectively, whereas intercropping with sorghum (Sorghum bicolor cv. Co 30) and maize (Zea mays cv. Co 6) moderate significantly less population of defoliators was recorded. Groundnut + sesame (Sesamum indicum cv. Co 1), Groundnut + onion (Allium cepa cv. Co 1), Groundnut + redgram (Cajanus cajan cv. VBN (Rg) 3) and Groundnut + marigold (Tagetes erecta cv. MDU 1) intercropping system recorded high mean population as compared to other cropping systems while groundnut as pure crop recorded the highest mean population of 11.17, 12.39 and 10.33 larvae/10 plants. Same trend could be noticed in turms leaflet damage by the defoliators.
Arachis hypogaea, Defoliators, Intercropping system
