Caterpillars are one of the pests that cause significant damage to crops, including Bengal gram. Bengal gram, also known as chickpea, is a crucial cash crop grown in different regions worldwide, including India, where it’s a staple food. The caterpillar attack on Bengal gram can result in significant losses to farmers. In this article, we will discuss the control measures of caterpillar attack in Bengal gram crops.
Identify the Caterpillar Types
Before you can employ any control measures, it’s essential to identify the type of caterpillar infesting your Bengal gram crop. Some common caterpillars that attack Bengal gram include gram pod borer Helicoverpa armigera, spotted pod borer Maruca testulalis, and plume moth Exelastis atomosa.
Insecticides
Insecticides are one of the most effective control measures used to control caterpillar attack in Bengal gram crop. Effective insecticides that are commonly used include Fenvalerate, Chlorpyrifos, Quinalphos, and Endosulfan. However, the use of insecticides requires utmost care as they can be toxic to the environment and the users if not used correctly.
Manual Control Measures
Manual control measures are ideal for small-scale farmers. Some manual control measures include hand picking of the caterpillars and squishing them. This method is effective but may not be practical for farmers with large-scale Bengal gram crop.
Biological Control Measures
Biological control measures involve the use of natural enemies of caterpillars to control their population. Some commonly used biological control measures for caterpillar attack on Bengal gram include the use of parasitoid wasps, predatory beetles, and the Bacillus thuringiensis bacterium.
Cultural Control Measures
Cultural control measures involve the use of cultural practices that make the Bengal gram crop less susceptible to caterpillar attack. Crop rotation is one of the cultural control measures used to prevent caterpillar attack on Bengal gram. It involves planting other crops that are not susceptible to caterpillar attack to break the pest’s lifecycle. Additionally, farmers can use modern farming techniques and tools to help control caterpillar attack on the Bengal gram crop.
Conclusion
Caterpillar attack on Bengal gram can cause significant losses to farmers. However, with proper identification of the pest, farmers can use various control measures to protect their crop from the pest’s devastating effects. Insecticides, manual control measures, biological control measures, and cultural control measures are some of the methods used to control caterpillar attack on Bengal gram crops. As much as possible, farmers should consider the use of eco-friendly control methods for caterpillar infestation.