Effect of intercrops on incidence of chilli sucking pests

Field trials were conducted at farmers holding with six treatments including a standard check and chilli as sole crop. Among the different intercrops tested, chilli crop intercropped with onion was found superior which registered lower population of aphids, thrips and mites (3.61, 6.23 and 19.09/3 leaves) and it was at par with chilli + bajra, chilli + castor, chilli + cowpea when compared to chilli as pure crop which registered the highest population whereas the standard check (profenophos) registered the lowest population of sucking pests. Among intercrop combinations, the population of natural enemies viz., coccinellids, spiders and predatory mites were more or less similar.