Study

The management of the major insect pests Bactocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Aulacaphora spp. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in cucurbits in Southern Sri Lanka under three intensive systems: integrated, chemical and organic agriculture

  • Published source details Rajapakse R. & Ratnasekera D. (2007) The management of the major insect pests Bactocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Aulacaphora spp. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in cucurbits in Southern Sri Lanka under three intensive systems: integrated, chemical and organic agriculture. Acta Horticulturae, 731, 303-308.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Convert to organic farming

Action Link 		Natural Pest Control
  1. Convert to organic farming

    A randomised, replicated, controlled study in 1998-1999 in southern Sri Lanka (Rajapakse & Ratnasekera 2007) found more predatory weaver ants Oecophylla smaragdina in organic plots (averaging 4.4 ants/plant) than in conventional treated plots (0 ants) and similar numbers in organic and untreated (3.8 ants) plots. Mortality of pest fruit flies (Tephritidae) averaged 90-100% in organic plots compared to 80-100% in conventional plots at 14 days after flowering, and was higher in organic than untreated (30-50%) plots. Mortality of leaf beetles Aulacaphora spp. was similar in organic (71-81%) and conventional (71-82%) plots in three seasons, but lower in organic (80%) than conventional (100%) plots in the wet season, 1998. Leaf beetle mortality was higher in organic than untreated (21-42%) plots in all years and seasons. Yields of bitter gourd Mormordica charantia and snake gourd Trichosanthes cucumerina (combined) averaged 20-25 t/ha in organic plots compared with 15-20 t/ha in conventional and 5-10 t/ha in untreated plots. Organic, conventional and untreated regimes were replicated eight times across two sites using plots of 1.5 x 1.5 m. Organic plots received a insecticidal neem Azadirachta indica preparation. Conventional plots received carbaryl granules and sprays of fenthion insecticide.

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