Management of sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius Fab through barrier crops of yam bean and marigold

A field experiment was conducted in four consecutive years during kharif 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 at Central Experimental Station, Wakawali, Dapoli, Maharashtra to control the sweet potato weevil (Cylas formicarius Fab) through barrier crops of yam bean and marigold. Among various treatments the treatment paired rows of sweet potato and one row of marigold showed significantly lower weevil infestation (23.12%) in comparison to the highest infestation in treatment having sole crop of sweet potato (47.65%). The treatments paired rows of sweet potato + one row of marigold and alternative row of sweet potato + marigold were at par with each other with respect to per cent weevil infestation. In case of weevil population per kg of infected tubers, the treatment paired rows of sweet potato and one row of marigold showed that significantly less number of weevils emerged from infected tubers and the treatment was at par with alternative row of sweet potato and marigold.