Screening of Okra Hybrids Against Major Pests Under Reduced Level of Chemical Fertilizers Supplemented with Organic Manures

The hybrids of okra were evaluated against jassids, Yellow vein mosaic virus (YVMV) and fruit borer incidence under reduced chemical fertilizers supplemented with cow dung manure and neem cake at the District Seed Farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur (West Bengal), India during summer and Kharif season of 2004. The data pooled over two seasons revealed that the population density of jassids was minimum in hybrid Makhamalli (3.7) which was at par with NOH 15 (3.5), Mahyco Bhendi No.2 (3.8), Mahyco Bhendi No. 12 (4.0), Sun 40 (4.2), Vijaya (4.5) and Sun 8 (5.01) in harboring low jassid population. The incidence of YVMV was low in Makhamalli (10.1%), while it was high in Indo 7215 (47.9%). The fruit borer incidence ranged from 5.0% (Bejo hybrid) to 10.3% (Panchalli). The hybrids viz., Sun 40, Makhamalli, NOH 15, Mahyco Bhendi No.12, Sun 08 and Mahyco Bhendi No.10 yielding 98.7 to 104.5 q/ha and having tolerance to jassids, YVMV and fruit borer can be recommended for commercial cultivation under reduced level of fertilizers (50% of RDF @ 150:100:80 kg NPK/ha) along with organic manures, in both summer and Kharif seasons. Application of neem cake was found beneficial not only in reducing the pest load, but also in increasing the yield with optimum profit.