Integrated pest management approaches and their influence on leaf miner infestation in Kinnow Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)

Abstract

Kinnow (Citrus reticulata) is the most important juicy fruit crop within the citrus group, which is mostly vulnerable to leaf miner, and this insect poses a major concern to farmers. Farmers injudiciously spray the various non- label claim insecticides either alone or in mixture for the control of leaf miner. Excess applications of insecticides may disturb the ecological balance of beneficial insects, rhizospheric microorganism and contributes in water and soil pollution. Application of IPM approaches is only substitutes to overcome these problems. The present study comprising of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches and farmer adopted practices against leaf miner (Phyllocnistis citrella) Stainton showed that, lowest leaf miner infestation (3.07±2.54, 1.04±0.63 and 1.33±0.37 no. of affected leaves /10 leaves of a shoot) was recorded in IPM plot having need based spray of neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) @ 5% and imidacloprid 17.8SL @ 200ml in 500 liter of water as compared to farmer practice (3.87±2.98, 1.89±0.77 and 2.01±0.45 no. of affected leaves /10 leaves of a shoot) and control (5.08±3.70, 2.58±0.92 and 3.13±0.71 no. of affected leaves /10 leaves of a shoot) during the year of 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. Similarly, the least mean leaf infestation (1.81±1.09) was also observed in IPM in comparison to farmer practice (FP) (2.59±1.11) and control (3.60±1.31) plots. The highest reduction of leaf miner damage (49.72%) was noticed in IPM compared to Farmer practice (28.05%). The validated IPM techniques are an economically viable alternative to farmers for effective management of the leaf miner.