Effect of certain indigenous technical knowledge on the management of red spider mite (Oligonychus coffeae) in tea
<p>An investigation was carried out at Deha Tea Estate, Jorhat, Assam during 2015-16 by using different indigenous technical<br />knowledge (ITK) prevalent among different small tea growers. Fish extract at (0.25, 0.5 and 1%), Polygonum hydropiper at (2.5,<br />5 and 7.5%) and Azadirachtin (Neemazal-F 5%) were evaluated in field conditions against tea mite. The result showed that fish<br />extract in combination with cow dung, cow urine and water when sprayed at one per cent concentration, significantly reduced red<br />spider mite population (96.5%), percentage of leaves infestation (5.2%) and leaf area infested by the mite (11.6%). P. hydropiper<br />in combination with cow urine and water when sprayed at 7.5 per cent concentration significantly reduced red spider mite<br />population (87.5%), percentage of infestation (9.1%) and leaf area infested by the mite (12.9%). Among all the ITKs, fish extract<br />at one per cent caused higher reduction of infestation of red spider mite followed by P. hydropiper extract at 7.5 per cent.<br />Influence of both the treatments on the management of red spider mite was at par with that of commercial Azadirachtin.</p>