Department of Entomology, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur848125, Bihar, India
*Email: rk440659@gmail.com (corresponding author)
Online Published on 08 February, 2023.
This study evaluates the effect of maize, sorghum and cowpea as intercrops with okra (at ratio of main: intercrop-of 1:1 and 2:1) against okra shoot and fruit borer Earias spp. incidence. The results revealed that the least shoot damage (5.00%) was observed with okra + cowpea (1:1) intercropping followed by okra + cowpea (2:1) and okra + sorghum (1:1). Maximum shoot damage (6.65%) was registered in okra + maize (2:1) as against mono-cropping (7.69%). Similarly, the least fruit damage (12.25%) was in okra + cowpea (1:1) crop statistically on par with that of okra + cowpea (2:1), okra + sorghum (1:1) and okra + sorghum (2:1); maximum (16.41%) was observed with okra + maize (2:1) and okra as a sole crop (18.42%). The okra + cowpea (1:1) recorded the maximum land equivalent ratio (1.31) followed by okra + cowpea 1.20 at 2:1 and okra+ sorghum 1.19 at 1:1 crop ratio. Okra intercropped with maize (2:1) was found less effective (0.99) than the okra sole. The maximum okra equivalent yield (111.4 q/ha) was obtained with okra + cowpea intercropping (1:1), while the least (100.9 q/ha) was in okra + maize (2:1).
Okra, Earias spp. Intercrop, Incidence, Shoot and fruit damage, Cowpea, Sorghum, Maize, Monocropping, Yield, Okra equivalent yield, Land equivalent ratio
