The effect of abiotic factors on incidence of major insect pests in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

Understanding the impact of abiotic factors on pest incidence in cowpea is crucial for developing effective pest management strategies. By identifying how environmental conditions influence pest populations, farmers can better anticipate outbreaks and implement timely interventions. To analyze the seasonal incidence of major insect pests on cowpea, a simple correlation analysis was conducted between pest populations and abiotic factors, including minimum and maximum temperatures, morning and evening relative humidity, rainfall and wind speed. Field experiments were conducted at the Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute (RARI), Durgapura, Jaipur (Rajasthan),during two consecutive seasons i.e., Kharif 2022 and 2023. During Kharif 2022, jassids and whiteflies exhibit a positive correlation with maximum temperature (r = 0.668 and 0.670, respectively) and negative correlations with relative humidity, while Maruca vitrata was also positively correlated with temperature (r = 0.673). In 2023, similar trends were observed, with significant negative correlations between jassids, whiteflies and M. vitrata populations and relative humidity, while M. vitrata again showed a positive correlation with temperature (r = 0.669). The study concludes that temperature positively influences the population buildup of jassids, whiteflies and M. vitrata, whilerelative humidity has a suppressive effect. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating weather-based forecasting in pest management strategies for cowpea.