Journal of Eco-friendly Agriculture

Field investigations were undertaken during Kharif, 2013 to study the influence of groundnut based intercropping system on Spodoptera litura (Fab.) at Agricultural Research Station, Dharwad. The insect incidence was measured in terms of number of egg mass, larval count in a unit area and per cent leaf damage. The highest number of egg mass (0.93 m⁻¹ row length), was observed at 45 days after sowing (DAS) and that of larval population was at 60 DAS (3.77 larvae m⁻¹ row length). The highest percentage of leaf damage was observed at 60 DAS (27%). Among the seven intercropping systems tested, lowest egg mass, larval population and per cent of leaf damage by S. litura was recorded in groundnut + foxtail millet, followed by groundnut + bajra, groundnut + sorghum and groundnut + sunflower intercropping systems. However, highest egg mass, larval population and leaf damage was documented in sole groundnut crop.