Introduction to major field crops (1+1)

Plant Protection

Insect Pests
Shoot Fly: Insect causes damage from 1-4 week after emergence, Maggot feeds on tips resulting into wilting of central leaf. Leaf dries and gives a typical appearance of dead heart. At later stages, infested plant produce side tillers. Infestation can be avoided by sowing crop within 7-10 days of onset of monsoon. In rabi sowing end of September to first week of October, avoid shoot-fly damage. Seed treatment with Furadan at 100 g/kg seed orFuradan 3G or Phorate 10G at sowing @20kg/ha also check incidence. In case of infestation in standing crop, spray 0.025 per cent Metasystox. Repeat spraying after 15 days.




Fig: Shoot fly. Fig: Seed treatment device.

Stem Borer: Infest crop from 15 days till maturity. Larvae initially feed on leaves. Later, the larvae bore into the main stem causing stem tunneling leading to breakage of stem. Preventive measures are to uproot and burn the stubbles of previous crop. Infestation may be checked by applying Endosulfan 4G or Malathion10D or Furadan 3G in whorl @8-12 kg/ha at 20-35 days after emergence after any visual symptom of insect.



Fig: Stem borer.