Eggplant Integrated Pest Management AN ECOLOGICAL GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWHY THIS GUIDE? .................................................................................................................................... 11 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 21.1 INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT: BEYOND BUGS….......................................................................... 21.2 THE VEGETABLE IPM PROGRAMME .................................................................................................. 21.3 DEVELOPING VEGETABLE IPM BASED ON RICE IPM ........................................................................... 31.4 EGGPLANT: A BIT OF HISTORY........................................................................................................... 32 EGGPLANT CROP DEVELOPMENT..................................................................................................... 42.1 EGGPLANT GROWTH STAGES............................................................................................................ 52.2 SUSCEPTIBILITY OF EGGPLANT GROWTH STAGES TO PESTS ............................................................... 53 MAJOR AGRONOMIC PRACTICES...................................................................................................... 83.1 CLIMATE AND SITE SELECTION.......................................................................................................... 93.2 SELECTING A VARIETY...................................................................................................................... 93.2.1 Hybrids and open pollinated varieties.................................................................................... 93.2.2 Resistant varieties................................................................................................................ 103.3 SEED SELECTION........................................................................................................................... 113.4 SEED EXTRACTION......................................................................................................................... 123.5 SEED GERMINATION....................................................................................................................... 123.6 SEED TREATMENTS........................................................................................................................ 123.6.1 Physical seed treatment ..................................................................................................... 133.6.2 Chemical seed treatment.................................................................................................... 143.6.3 Botanical seed treatment .................................................................................................... 143.6.4 Biological seed treatment ................................................................................................... 143.7 SOIL ............................................................................................................................................. 153.7.1 The living soil ...................................................................................................................... 153.7.2 Soil type .............................................................................................................................. 153.7.3 Soil infection........................................................................................................................ 163.7.4 Soil sterilization................................................................................................................... 173.7.5 Soil pH ................................................................................................................................ 173.7.6 Measuring and adjusting soil pH......................................................................................... 183.7.7 Soil conservation and erosion control................................................................................. 193.8 FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT.............................................................................................................. 203.8.1 Macro and micro nutrients .................................................................................................. 203.8.2 Soil testing .......................................................................................................................... 213.8.3 Role of organic matter and micro-organisms...................................................................... 213.8.3.1 Compost ............................................................................................................................ 223.8.3.2 Cover crops, Green manure, and Living mulch................................................................. 273.8.3.3 Manure............................................................................................................................... 283.8.3.4 Organic mulches................................................................................................................ 293.8.4 Chemical fertilizers.............................................................................................................. 303.8.5 Comparing organic and chemical fertilizers........................................................................ 303.8.6 Foliar fertilizers.................................................................................................................... 313.8.7 Fertilization needs of eggplant............................................................................................ 313.9 PLANTING TIME AND PEST OCCURRENCE......................................................................................... 323.10 NURSERY MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................................ 323.10.1 Soil sterilization................................................................................................................... 323.10.1.1 Burning organic material on the soil ................................................................................ 333.10.1.2 Solarization...................................................................................................................... 333.10.1.3 Use of sub-soil................................................................................................................. 343.10.1.4 Biofumigation................................................................................................................... 343.10.1.5 Biological soil sterilization................................................................................................ 343.10.1.6 Boiled water..................................................................................................................... 353.10.2 Sowing ................................................................................................................................ 353.10.2.1 Flat field and raised seedbeds......................................................................................... 353.10.2.2 Sowing in pots ................................................................................................................. 363.11 FIELD PREPARATION ...................................................................................................................... 37iEggplant Ecological Guide