Evaluation of Some IPM Modules Against Red Ant Dorylus Orientalis Westwood in Potato

Field experiments were conducted at Charaibahi village, Jorhat, Assam during 2015-17 to evaluate six ecofriendly IPM modules against red ants Dorylus orientalis Westwood in potato. Among the modules evaluated, Module-II (pre sowing treatment of mustard oil cake @ 150 kg/ ha+ wood ash 150 kg/ ha+ panchagavya @ 3% and soil drenching with neem oil @ 5 ml/ lit after 1^st and 2^nd earthing up (25 and 60 DAS) recorded the lowest tuber damage both in weight (8.65%) and number (10.70%) basis and found at par with the recommended package of practices (RPP) (application of malathion 5% dust @ 40 kg/ ha+ mustard oil cake @ 150 kg/ ha in the soil after 1^st and 2^nd earthing up) recording 8.18 and 10.20% tuber damage, respectively. The same module also recorded highest tuber yield (119.37 q/ ha) which was at par with the RPP (120.12 q/ ha). The maximum benefit cost ratio (1.41) was recorded in RPP followed by Module-II (1.33) and Module-VI (1.26). The untreated control plot registered a very high level of tuber damage (25.93 and 28.70 on weight and number basis, respectively) having maximum population of red ants (3.95 numbers/ m²) with a tuber yield of 89.91 q/ ha.