Abstract

EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT OIL CAKES AGAINST POTATO CUTWORM, AGROTIS IPSILON (HUFN) IN BIHAR (INDIA)

Kumar Manendra*

Abstract

Potato is an ideal crop because of its virtue like wide adaptability, flexibility of production, diverse range of human taste and preference. Potato tuber contains about 80% water and 20% dry matter. The dry matter contains starch, sucrose, crude protein, pure protein, ascorbic acid, potassium & phosphorus. Potato is attacked by more than 100 arthropod pests. Of these, more than 80 have been reported in India. Potato cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon has been observed a serious pest of potato in Bihar. The efficacy of oilcakes of five plants like Neem, Mahua, Casor, Mustard and Karanj was studied at Muzaffarpur (Bihar). The foliar damage was recorded between 0.80 to 1.90% in different treatment of cakes as compared to 5.90% in untreated plots. The tuber damage by number varied between 2.40 to 3.40% in different treated plots as compared to 10.60% in untreated plots. The tuber damage by weight varied between 2.60% to 3.50% in different treated plots as compared to 11.30% in untreated plots. Among these treatments, Neem cake was found most effective as in this treatment foliar damage was 0.80%, tuber damage by number was 2.40% and tuber damage by weight was 2.60%.

Keywords: Potato, Pest, Infestation, Cutworm, Oilcake, Agrotis ipsilon.