National Research Centre for Spices, Cardamom Research Centre, Appangala, Madikeri, Karnataka-571 201 (India).
*Present address: National Research Centre for Spices, P.B. No. 1701, Marikunnu Post, Calicut-673 012, Kerala (India).
Thrips (Sciothrips cardamomi R.), an important pest of small cardamom, causes about 30–80 per cent crop loss. Field evaluation of three granular pesticides, alone and in combination with neem oil cake, was done during 1989–93 to study their effects on various soil-borne pests of cardamom. Among the pesticides, phorate @ 5 and 2.5 g a.i./clump gave the highest reduction in thrips’ damage (32.9 and 29.2%), followed by quinalphos (18.6 and 15.4%). In the case of carbofuran, significant difference was observed at 5 g a.i./clump only. Neem oil cake had no effect at all. The reduction in damage due to thrips is attributed to the protection of tender capsules by the pre-monsoon application of pesticides. Therefore, a single application of a broad spectrum pesticide like phorate is convenient and economical than the usual recommendation of six or seven rounds of insecticide spray.
