ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

Spiders and coccinellids were absent in FP plots and ranged only from 0.2 to 0.4 per plant in Bio’ plots, compared to
about two coccinellids per plant and one spider for every three plants counted in the relevant treatment plots of an
experiment at ICRISAT. Large number of sprays in ‘Bio’ plots (range 6 to 12) were prescribed compared to ‘FP’
plots (range 2 to 5). A frequent spray in Bio plots was considered necessary until a high population of
predators/parasites is ensured.
The results from this exploratory work clearly shows that locally available products can be used to achieve good
levels of pest control with additional yield increases.
ii. Integrate, evaluate and promote IDM options with other crop management technologies (including, PVS,
IPM INM) for the management BGM of chickpea, and foliar diseases of groundnut in participation with
farmers Suresh Pande and Collaborators
Farmer-participatory on-farm integrated crop management for the management of BGM of chickpea in
Nepal: Chickpea is one of the most important staple grain legumes in Nepal. Despite it importance, at the farm
level productivity remains low due to a range of diseases (wilt, botrytis gray mold (BGM)), pests (Helicoverpa Pod
borer) and micronutrient deficiencies (boron) that results in poor nodulation. To date each of these constraints have
been addressed as a single factor management option, and now need to be integrated, as an integrated crop
management (ICM) package, with and emphasis on diseases and pests for the over all management of chickpea crop
in Nepal.
In collaboration with Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) and its Regional Research Stations, the ICM
technology was evaluated and scaled up in the Terai region of Nepal using participatory technology development
approaches involving 369 farmers from seven villages spread across 4 districts. Each evaluation trial was planted on
one katha (333 m 2 ), adjacent to the farmers own crop for direct comparison.
The ICM technology consisted of BGM tolerant cultivar ICC 14344 (Avarodhi)/Tara, a fungicidal seed treatment,
wider row spacing, application of Rhizobium innoculant, fertilizer, and judicious use of pesticides to control BGM
and pod borer. Plant stand was optimum in ICM plots (~80% germination) compared to non-ICM plots (~50%
germination) across all locations. Severity of BGM was very low during the current year in ICM plots due to dry
weather and absent of winter rains. Mean grain yield across locations was 1055 kg ha -1 .[REF112]
Farmer-participatory on-farm IDM trials in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka: Groundnuts play an important role
in the well being of the rural communities of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, not only providing essential vegetable
protein for household consumption, but also haulms, an essential fodder resource for cattle. Yet, system productivity
is severely constrained by two destructive fungal foliar diseases, late leaf spot (Phaeosariopsis personata) and rust
(Puccinia arachidis), that cause severe losses in the quality and quantity (yields) of haulms and pods, impacting on
household food security and fodder resources for cattle. Integrated disease management (IDM) packages, developed
at ICRISAT-Patancheru, offer simple management solutions to these two diseases.
The IDM package has been promoted widely throughout the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka using
participatory technology development approaches involving some 275 farmers from 12 villages. IDM technology
consisted of improved duel purpose groundnut cultivar, ICGV 91114 with moderate levels of host plant-resistance,
fungicide seed treatment and judicious use of fungicide, chlorothalonil (Kavach) at 60 days after sowing (DAS).
During the 2005/2006[REF113] season, rainfall pattern in the entire Deccan Plateau was unique[REF114], with an
early start to the season, that allowed all sowings to be completed by the last week of July. Unfortunately, the post
planting period was extremely dry, with little or no rain for most of August. The dry spell was then broken during
the last week of August by continuous and heavy rainfall that continued throughout October. Although the crop
initially recovered, the continued rainfall during flowering and podding, through to harvest were ideal conditions for
foliar diseases, that affected both the quality and quantity of the pods and haulms harvested from non-IDM
plots.[REF115]
Mean severity of foliar diseases across locations was low i.e. 6.1 rating on a 1-9 scale) in IDM plots compared to 8.7
rating in non-IDM plots. This reduction in disease severity translated into significantly higher pod (1.48 t ha -1 and
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