scholarly journals Conventional and organic cropping systems at Suitia I: Experimental design and summaries

1990 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 295-307
Author(s):  
Asko O. Hannukkala ◽  
Jukka Korva ◽  
Eeva Tapio
Keyword(s):  
Insect Pests ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Harmful Effect ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Organic Manures ◽  
Chemical Pesticides

The effects of four conventional and four organic cropping systems on the crop yield and yield quality, on the microbial activity of soil, on weeds, plant diseases, insect pests and earthworms were compared in a field experiment on the Suitia Experimental Farm in Southern Finland in 1982—1988. In the conventional cropping systems, industrial fertilisers and chemical pesticides were used according to practices adopted on actual farms in Southern Finland. In the organic cropping systems, plant nutrition was based on biological N fixation by legumes and organic manures. No chemical pesticides were used. The average yield of barley in organic cropping varied between one quarter and half of that in conventional cropping. The yields of winter wheat, oats and potato were about 40 % of those obtained conventionally. The yields of clover-grass leys in organic farming were similar to those of grass-leys in the conventional system. Unfortunately, the clover-grass leys outwintered after the first year. The primary reason for the poor crop growth in the organic cropping systems was apparently the acute N deficiency caused by poor performance of legumes, low N content of organic manures and N losses in anaerobic conditions often occurring during winter and early spring. Pronounced soil compaction and anaerobic conditions in organic cropping systems had a harmful effect on the microbiological activity of soil as well as on earthworms. Weeds, plant diseases and insects were not a remarkable problem in any of the cropping systems.

scholarly journals Use of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi for Vegetable Crops

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arpitha Shankar
Keyword(s):  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Symbiotic Relationships ◽  
Healthy Growth ◽  
Chemical Pesticides

AMF (Arbuscular Mychorhizal Fungi) are very well known due to their importance in promoting growth and developments of plants especially vegetables. These fungi can be grown easily, stored and multiplied with simple means, also the application of these fungi is generally on the layer of the soil or near the roots in the inner layers of the soils. The growth of the amf fungi is very easy and they are highly adjustable to any soil and environmental conditions. In this review our main focus is on the use of amf for production of vegetables and also the effect of amf against insects and pests. The amf is known to reduce several symptoms caused by different insect pests and also plant diseases thereby promoting healthy growth of the plants. Also use of this amf will increase the uptake of nutrient from the soils through symbiotic relationships between plants and fungi. The uptake of important minerals which are drawn from deeper layers of soils is observed with the help pf amf. This study reveals the benefits of the use of amf under severe disease and pest incidences thereby known as an alternate for harmful chemical pesticides and fungicides.

scholarly journals Chitinases from Bacteria to Human: Properties, Applications, and Future Perspectives

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhishek Singh Rathore ◽  
Rinkoo D. Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Cell Walls ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Effective Field ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Laboratory Evolution ◽  
Chemical Pesticides

Chitin is the second most plenteous polysaccharide in nature after cellulose, present in cell walls of several fungi, exoskeletons of insects, and crustacean shells. Chitin does not accumulate in the environment due to presence of bacterial chitinases, despite its abundance. These enzymes are able to degrade chitin present in the cell walls of fungi as well as the exoskeletons of insect. They have shown being the potential agents for biological control of the plant diseases caused by various pathogenic fungi and insect pests and thus can be used as an alternative to chemical pesticides. There has been steady increase in demand of chitin derivatives, obtained by action of chitinases on chitin polymer for various industrial, clinical, and pharmaceutical purposes. Hence, this review focuses on properties and applications of chitinases starting from bacteria, followed by fungi, insects, plants, and vertebrates. Designing of chitinase by applying directed laboratory evolution and rational approaches for improved catalytic activity for cost-effective field applications has also been explored.

Implementing the systems approach in rice pest management : India context

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 136-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
RK Tanwar ◽  
S Singh ◽  
SP Singh ◽  
Vikas Kumar Kanwar ◽  
Rakesh Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systems Approach ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Rice Variety ◽  
National Level ◽  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Basmati Rice ◽  
Rice Grain ◽  
Integrated Crop Management ◽  
Chemical Pesticides

A basic IPM module for basmati rice as a part of integrated crop management accounting the pest prevalence and the information available from literature has been developed. As the module is location specific and dynamic, therefore needs regular updating and fine tuning depending on the location and pest prevalence. The technology has been successfully validated and implemented during 1998 to 2019 in Pusa Basmati 1, Taraori Basmati, Dehraduni Basmati, Pusa Basmati 1121 in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand with little modification and fine tuning. Implementation of the technology resulted in increase in rice grain yield i.e., 21.6% in Pusa Basmati 1 at Shikohpur, in Uttar Pradesh 21.5% in Taraori Basmati at Chhajpur in Haryana, 19.5% in Type 3 in Uttarakhand, 14.5 to 22.7% in Pusa Basmati 1121 in Haryana and 38.2% in Pusa Basmati 1121 in Uttar Pradesh over farmer's practices (FP). In all the basmati rice trials, higher yield as well as Benefit - Cost (B-C) ratio was obtained in IPM as compared to FP. Implementation of IPM led to significant reduction in uses of chemical pesticides. In case of IPM, only 1.46 application of chemical pesticides (103.2 g a.i./ha) were undertaken in Pusa Basmati 1121 against 2.8 application in FP (1214.4 g a.i./ha) at Bambawad, Uttar Pradesh. ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack developed and validated IPM module at Sigmapur (Cuttack, Odisha) non-Basmati rice variety Pooja for four kharif seasons i.e 2010-2013 using standard agronomic practices. The trial resulted in an enhancement of 47.1% yield and 26.47 % B-C ratio over FP. Additional income of Rs. 9857/- per ha was also obtained in IPM over FP. On-Farm trial on validation of IPM module in non-Basmati rice (Pooja variety) under semi deep water conditions conducted in 10 ha during rabi 2017 at Nagapur and Basudeipur villages in Khurda district of Odisha resulted in reduction in the incidence of insect pests and diseases with higher population of natural enemies as compared to FP. Rice yield was recorded 5600 kg ha-1 in IPM as against 4900 kg ha-1 in FP. Recently, ICT based e-pest monitoring and advisory has become an important component for area wise implementation of IPM at state and national level. The programme has been successfully implemented in Odisha during 2010 and 2011 under RKVY. Implementation of the programme had resulted successful management of swarming caterpillar in 13 rice growing districts of Odisha during kharif 2010 and 2011.

Comparative Effect of Groundnut (Arachis hypogea l.) Genotypes on Yield and N Fixation in Sudan and Northern Guinea Savannahs of Nigeria

2019 ◽  
pp. 61-67
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Maize Crop ◽  
Significant Interaction Effect ◽  
Pod Yield

Recognition of high yielding and nitrogen (N) fixing groundnut genotypes and desegregating them in the cereal-based cropping systems common in savannah regions will enhance food security and reduce the need for high N fertilizers hence, minimize the high cost and associated environmental consequences. Field trials were conducted during the 2015 growing season at the Research Farms of Bayero University Kano (BUK) and Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru-Zaria to assess the yield potential and Biolog- ical N fixation in 15 groundnut genotypes (ICG 4729, ICGV-IS 07823, ICGV-IS 07893, ICGV-IS 07908, ICGV- SM 07539, ICGV- SM 07599, ICGV-IS 09926, ICGV-IS 09932, ICGV-IS 09992, ICGV-IS 09994, SAMNUT-21, SAMNUT-22, SAMNUT-25, KAMPALA and KWANKWAS). The groundnut genotypes and reference Maize crop (SAMMAZ 29) were planted in a randomized complete block design in three replications. N difference method was used to estimate the amount of N fixed. The parameters determined were the number of nodules, nod- ule dry weight, shoot and root dry weights, pod, and haulm yield as well as N fixation. The nodule dry weight, BNF, haulm, and pod yield were statistically significant (P<0.01) concerning genotype and location. Similarly, their interac- tion effect was also highly significant. ICGV-IS 09926 recorded the highest nod- ule dry weight of 2.07mg /plant across the locations while ICGV-IS 09932 had the highest BNF value of 140.27Kg/ha. Additionally, KAMPALA had the high- est haulm yield, while ICGV-IS 07893 had the highest pod yield across the loca- tions with a significant interaction effect. The result shows that ICGV-IS 07893 and ICGV-IS 09932, as well as ICGV-IS 09994 and SAMNUT – 22, were the best genotypes concerning BNF, haulm and pod yield in the Northern Guinea and Sudan Savannahs of Nigeria respectively with the potential for a corresponding beneficial effect.

scholarly journals Cryo-EM structures of an insecticidal Bt toxin reveal its mechanism of action on the membrane

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Byrne ◽  
Matthew G. Iadanza ◽  
Marcos Arribas Perez ◽  
Daniel P. Maskell ◽  
Rachel M. George ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Data ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Commercial Agriculture ◽  
Efficient Manner ◽  
Bt Toxin ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Chemical Pesticides ◽  
Wide Potential

AbstractInsect pests are a major cause of crop losses worldwide, with an estimated economic cost of $470 billion annually. Biotechnological tools have been introduced to control such insects without the need for chemical pesticides; for instance, the development of transgenic plants harbouring genes encoding insecticidal proteins. The Vip3 (vegetative insecticidal protein 3) family proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis convey toxicity to species within the Lepidoptera, and have wide potential applications in commercial agriculture. Vip3 proteins are proposed to exert their insecticidal activity through pore formation, though to date there is no mechanistic description of how this occurs on the membrane. Here we present cryo-EM structures of a Vip3 family toxin in both inactive and activated forms in conjunction with structural and functional data on toxin–membrane interactions. Together these data demonstrate that activated Vip3Bc1 complex is able to insert into membranes in a highly efficient manner, indicating that receptor binding is the likely driver of Vip3 specificity.

scholarly journals Comparative Experimental Effects of Intercropping and Cypermethrin on Insect Pest Infestation and Yield of Maize, Cowpea and Okra in Two Cameroonian Agro-Ecological Zones

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 383-393
Author(s):  
Patient Farsia Djidjonri ◽  
Nukenine Elias Nchiwan ◽  
Hartmut Koehler
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Pest Infestation ◽  
Final Yield ◽  
Cropping Seasons ◽  
Agro Ecological Zones

The present study investigates the effect of intercropping (maize-cowpea, maize-okra, maize-okra-cowpea, okra-cowpea) compared to insecticide application on the level of infestation of insect pests and the final yield of maize, cowpea and okra. Field experiments were conducted during the 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons in the Guinean Savannah (Dang-Ngaoundere) and Sudano Sahelian (Gouna-Garoua) agro-ecological zones in Cameroon. Our experimental design was a split plot arrangement in a randomized complete block with four replications. The main factor was assigned to the use of insecticide (Cypermethrin) and sub plots were devoted for cropping systems. We compared the efficiency of intercropping to that of Cypermethrin application on the Yield of maize, cowpea and okra as influenced by insect pest damages. The comparison of monocropped sprayed by Cypermethrin to unsprayed showed that, in Dang, insect pests reduced maize yield by 37% and 24% in 2016 and 2017, respectively, whereas in Gouna, it was lower than 8% during the both years. Reduction in seed yield by insect pests on cowpea in Dang represented 47% and 50% in 2016 and 2017, respectively, whereas in Gouna, it was 55% and 63% in 2016 and 2017, respectively. For okra, insect pests reduced okra fruit yield by 25% and 44% in Dang and 23% and 28% in Gouna, respectively, in 2016 and 2017. Crop yield was lower in intercropping compared to monoculture due to competition of plants in association on different resources. Considering the total yields obtained from each intercropping, intercropping trials resulted generally in higher yields compared to mono-culture (LER > 1) in both sites and years but the respective yields were quite different. On the basis of the results obtained, we recommend maize-cowpea intercropping as a sustainable solution to reduce the infestation level of their pest insects.

scholarly journals Appraisal of cowpea cropping systems and farmers’ perceptions of production constraints and preferences in the dry savannah areas of Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saba Baba Mohammed ◽  
Daniel Kwadjo Dzidzienyo ◽  
Muhammad Lawan Umar ◽  
Mohammad Faguji Ishiyaku ◽  
Pangirayi Bernard Tongoona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Density ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Pairwise Comparison ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Crop Failure ◽  
Production Constraints ◽  
Cowpea Varieties ◽  
Breeding Programmes ◽  
Sole Cropping

Abstract Background Low plant density and wide intra-plant spacing in traditional cowpea cropping systems are among the factors responsible for low yield on farmers’ fields. Sole cropping and improved intercropping systems have been advocated in the last few years to increase yield in the dry savannah areas of Nigeria. This study investigated the level of adoption of high yielding cowpea cropping systems including factors that influenced their use and farmers’ perceived production constraints and preferences. A total of 420 farmers across 36 villages of northern Nigeria were interviewed, and data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics to appraise farmers predominant cowpea cropping systems and factors that determine the use of sole versus intercropping were identified with the aid of binary logit regression. Furthermore, pairwise comparison ranking was deployed to understand farmers’ view of cowpea production constraints and preferred traits. Results The results revealed that, many of the farmers (42%) still grow cowpeas in the traditional intercropping and a good number (25%) cultivate the crop as a sole crop, while 23% had fields of cowpeas in both sole and intercropping systems. Farmers reported the incidence of high insect pests, limited access to land, desire to have multiple benefits, and assurance in the event of crop failure as reasons for preference for intercropping over sole planting. The pairwise comparison ranking of constraints and preferences revealed insect pests, Striga, drought and poor access to fertilizers as major constraints to increased productivity. Many farmers indicated high yield as the most preferred trait. Conclusions Findings indicate a need for increased education and training of cowpea farmers on the importance of growing cowpeas in sole cropping and or improved intercropping systems. Genetic improvement efforts should focus on developing cowpea varieties that address farmers production constraints and reflect the diversity of consumers’ preferences for the crop. Hence, breeding for resistance to insect pests and high yield is recommended as an important priority of cowpea breeding programmes in the region.

scholarly journals Myco-Biocontrol of Insect Pests: Factors Involved, Mechanism, and Regulation

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sardul Singh Sandhu ◽  
Anil K. Sharma ◽  
Vikas Beniwal ◽  
Gunjan Goel ◽  
Priya Batra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Insect Pest Control ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Chemical Inputs ◽  
Chemical Pesticides

The growing demand for reducing chemical inputs in agriculture and increased resistance to insecticides have provided great impetus to the development of alternative forms of insect-pest control. Myco-biocontrol offers an attractive alternative to the use of chemical pesticides. Myco-biocontrol agents are naturally occurring organisms which are perceived as less damaging to the environment. Their mode of action appears little complex which makes it highly unlikely that resistance could be developed to a biopesticide. Past research has shown some promise of the use of fungi as a selective pesticide. The current paper updates us about the recent progress in the field of myco-biocontrol of insect pests and their possible mechanism of action to further enhance our understanding about the biological control of insect pests.

scholarly journals Application of Trap Cropping as Companion Plants for the Management of Agricultural Pests: A Review

Insects ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shovon Chandra Sarkar ◽  
Endong Wang ◽  
Shengyong Wu ◽  
Zhongren Lei
Keyword(s):  
Pest Management ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Natural Enemy ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Critical Time ◽  
Trap Crops ◽  
Companion Plant ◽  
Trap Cropping

Companion planting is a well-known strategy to manage insect pests and support a natural enemy population through vegetative diversification. Trap cropping is one such type of special companion planting strategy that is traditionally used for insect pest management through vegetative diversification used to attract insect pests away from the main crops during a critical time period by providing them an alternative preferred choice. Trap crops not only attract the insects for feeding and oviposition, but also act as a sink for any pathogen that may be a vector. Considerable research has been conducted on different trap crops as companion plant species to develop improved pest management strategies. Despite this, little consensus exists regarding optimal trap cropping systems for diverse pest management situations. An advantage of trap cropping over an artificially released natural enemy-based biological control could be an attractive remedy for natural enemies in cropping systems. Besides, many trap crop species can conserve natural enemies. This secondary effect of attracting natural enemies may be an advantage compared to the conventional means of pest control. However, this additional consideration requires a more knowledge-intensive background to designing an effective trap cropping system. We have provided information based on different trap crops as companion plant, their functions and an updated list of trap cropping applications to attract insect pests and natural enemies that should be proven as helpful in future trap cropping endeavors.

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