FARMERS PRACTICES FOR COMBATING INSECT PESTS OF JUTE IN THREE INTENSIVE JUTE GROWING AREAS IN BANGLADESH AND THEIR ON-STATION VALIDATION TO DEVELOP AN IPM PACKAGE UTILIZING BIO-CONTROL AGENT AND NEEM PRODUCTS

Abstract

The experiments were conducted to study the status of farmers practices for combating insect & mite pests of jute and develop an IPM package utilizing bio- control agent and neem products in three extensive jute growing areas of Bangladesh and the experimental farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, during the period from March to August 2011. Field survey in three intensive jute growing areas viz., Tangail, Jamalpur and Manikgonj was conducted to identify the present status of farmers practices for combating insect & mite pests of jute. The following treatments were applied during develop an IPM package utilizing bio-control agent and neem product T1= Green neem leaf extract @ 1:20 at 7 days interval; T2= Dry neem leaf extract @ 1:20 at 7 days; T3 = Neem oil 5ml/ litre of water at 7 days interval; T4 = Neem seed karnel @ 200 g/L of water at 7 days interval; T5 = Trichogramma evanescense @ 0.5 gm/6m2 at 7 days interval; T6 = Trichogramma evanescense @ 0.5 gm/6m2 + Neem oil 5 ml/L of water at 7 days interval; T7 = Untreated control. According to the opinion of the respondent farmers collected from three intensive growing areas, jute hairy caterpillar, jute semilooper, weevil and mite were recorded as the major insect and mite pests of jute. Survey data revealed that the highest (14.25%) plant infestation was recorded for jute hairy caterpillar and the lowest (5.75%) was for jute weevil. The highest yield loss (23.00%) was recorded for jute hairy cater pillar and the lowest (11.00%) was for jute weevil. Considering economic loss, the highest (31.00%) economic loss was obtained for jute hairy caterpillar, while the lowest (14.00%) was weevil. During the development of IPM package the treatment that applied in consideration of % mortality of Jute hairy caterpillar, Jute semilooper, Jute weevil and Jute mite after 24, 48 and 72 hours where the highest mortality was recorded from T6 while the lowest mortality was recorded fromT5. By using bio-control agents and different neem products the highest yield (2.81 t ha-1) was recorded from T6, while the lowest yield (1.82 t ha-1) from T7. The highest benefit cost ratio (3.34) was estimated for T5 treatment and the lowest (2.81) for T6.