Efficacy of Different Management Modules on Mustard Aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) Suppression and Their Effect on Natural Enemy Population in a Cabbage Ecosystem

Maximizing the crop yield while minimizing the environmental impacts requires the development of appropriate pest management approaches. In this context, a study conducted in the Instructional Farm of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 rabi seasons provided valuable insights on the mustard aphid suppression under different management modules (i.e., biorational, chemical, and integrated management modules) in the cabbage ecosystem. The study suggests the implementation of the integrated pest management module (Module 3) using Imidacloprid 70% WS as seed treatment and neem cake as soil application can provide significantly (p<0.001) better aphid control at the initial phase. However, application of Buprofezin 25% SC and Fipronil 5% SC, as first and second spray, respectively, caused drastic reductions (p<0.001) in aphid population under the chemical management module (Module 2), with almost no aphid population at 63 days after transplanting (DAT) (i.e., 0.02±0.02 no. of aphids/leaf). Still, the mean aphid population was statistically at par under Modules 2 and Module 3, with a mean aphid population of 11.98±0.45 and 9.68±0.34 aphids/leaf, respectively. Furthermore, the chemical management module was recorded with the lowest population of Micraspis discolor (i.e., 0.23±0.02 per plant) and Coccinella transversalis (i.e., 0.16±0.02 per plant), which was significantly (p<0.001) lower than the integrated management module. In contrast, the biorational module (Module 1) was the safest for both natural enemies but possessed the lowest aphid control efficiency (i.e., mean population of 21.45±1.36 no. of aphids/leaf). These facts suggest that adopting an integrated management module over chemical and biorational management modules can provide better aphid suppression with less harmful effect on natural enemy populations.