Evaluation of Integrated Pest Management Module against Pests of Ground Nut and Productivity, Profitability Analysis under Open Field Conditions

Background: Groundnut is an annual oilseed crop that is cultivated in many tropical and sub-tropical countries for its seed purpose. The productivity of groundnut has drastically reduced since 2015 due to an array of insect pests especially sucking pests have emerged as a prominent factor contributing to decreased yields in groundnut by direct damage as well as vectors of virus diseases. Methods: The integrated package of practices including seed treatment with fungicide (mancozeb @ 3 g/kg seed) followed by insecticide (imidacloprid @ 2 mL/kg seed) and new generation insecticides (imidacloprid, chlorpyriphos and flubendiamide) were evaluated against sucking pests (aphid, leaf hopper and thrips) and leaf feeders (Spodoptera litura) under open field conditions in scarce rainfall zone of Andhra Pradesh, India during 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23. The parameters regarding incidence of pests, population reduction after treatment imposition, safety to natural enemies, phytotoxicity effects, extension gap, technology gap and technology index, were worked out in farmer’s field and demonstration field. Result: In this present study imidacloprid 17.8 SL was performed well in controlling aphids, leaf hoppers and thrips in all the three seasons and flubendiamide 39.35 SC was concluded as best treatment against Spodoptera litura in all seasons. During all the study years, the benefic cost ratio of demo practice indicates (1.26, 1.01 and 1.04) when compared to farmers practice (0.71, 0.69 and 0.76), respectively for 2020, 2021 and 2022. Similarly, the average extension gap, technology gap and yield gap were worked out and ranged from (3.4, 3.1 and 5.3), (1.82, 4.23 and 1.82), (12.72, 11.36 and 19.46) for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.