Farmscaping methods to enhance coccinellids and suppress aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) population in cabbage ecosystem

Abstract

Present studies were conducted to enhance coccinellid population to suppress aphids in cabbage ecosystem using farmscaping methods. In this studies cabbage was border cropped with Cowpea, Onion, Lab Lab, Tomato, Coriander and French bean separately during 2017 and 2018 to enhance activity of predatory coccinellids. Cabbage + cowpea border cropping system significantly influenced coccinellids on cabbage 3.26/plant along with highest pest defender ratio (PDR) of 1: 0.8, occurrence ratio (OR) of coccinellids (3.57), attract minimum number of Lipaphis erysimi (3.52/inch²/leaf), preference ratio (PR) of Lipaphis erysimi(0.81) and maximum BC ratio (1: 1.75). Followed by cabbage with French bean, Lab lab and tomato border cropping systems also effected for higher population of coccinellids; higher PDR and OR of coccinellids; and minimum Lipaphis erysimi and PR; Order of preference of coccinellids towards leaves and flowers was cowpea, French bean, tomato, lab lab, onion and coriander by olfactometer studies.