Impact of integrated pest management strategies on thrips infestation and yield of Kinnow Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco)

Abstract

Kinnow mandarin is one of the most important fruit crops in the citrus group, owing to its expanding cultivation area, rising production, and increasing market demand. However, thrips infestation from flowering to fruiting stages has emerged as a serious challenge for growers. In the absence of effective alternatives, farmers often rely on unlabeled or non-recommended insecticide mixtures, which adversely affect beneficial microorganisms and natural enemies, while also contributing to soil degradation and water pollution. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) offers the most sustainable solution to address these issues. To evaluate its effectiveness, field trials were conducted during 2021–2023 at Hisar, Haryana. Results showed that the lowest thrips populations (1.00 ± 0.77, 2.36 ± 0.76, and 2.55 ± 1.33 adults per branch/tapping in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively) were recorded under the IPM module. This success was attributed to the combined use of blue sticky traps (20/ha), neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) 5% on young leaves, and cyantraniliprole 10.26% OD @ 600 ml in 500 litres of water. In contrast, higher thrips populations were observed under farmer practice (2.05 ± 1.25, 3.40 ± 1.07, and 3.04 ± 1.46) and untreated control (3.05 ± 1.65, 4.39 ± 1.28, and 3.78 ± 1.68). These findings validate IPM as an economically viable and environmentally sound strategy for the successful management of thrips in Kinnow mandarin.