Bio-intensive integrated management strategy for mustard aphid Lipaphis erysimi Kalt. (Homoptera: Aphididae)
Among the various treatments evaluated for their bio-efficacy against mustard aphid on Indian mustard during 2011-12 and 2012-13 at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, the spray of Dimethoate 30 EC @ 1 ml/l followed by Verticillium lecanii @ 108 CS/ml was proved to be the best treatment with pooled mean aphid population of 4.5, 3.25 and 1.65 aphids/plant as against 22.0, 24.0 and 26.0 aphids/plant in the control after 3, 7 and 10 days of treatment, respectively. The pooled mean seed yield was also maximum (1485.0 kg/ha) in this treatment as compared to control (1305.0 kg/ha).The treatment was found on par with spray of dimethoate @ 1 ml/l followed by Coccinella septempunctata @ 5,000 beetles/ha with pooled mean aphid population of 5.0, 4.0 and 2.0 aphids/plant after 3, 7 and 10 days of treatment, respectively and pooled mean seed yield of (1470.0 kg/ha). But the cost benefit ratio was maximum (7.25) in treatment dimethoate followed by C. septempunctata and NSKE @ 5% followed by C. septempunctata @ 5,000 beetles/ha (6.68). Thus, entomopathogenic fungi like V. lecanii or NSKE along with release of C. septempunctata can be used as alternative measure to manage mustard aphid instead of solely relying on insecticides.