Integrated crop management strategies for sustainable management of thrips and purple blotch in garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) commonly known as lashun is the most widely cultivated Allium species after onion. However, the increasing prevalence of purple blotch disease and thrips incidence is a serious hazard that results in large losses in both qualitative and quantitative traits. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of combining cultural, biorational and chemical strategies for sustainable pest and disease management. Field experiments were conducted at Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Research Station, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad -SKLTGHU, during Rabi, 2022-23 and 2023-24 to assess efficacy of biorational and chemical against thrips and blotch. The experimental design consists of two factors (N1:100 % N + 50 % P + 50 % K + PSB @ 5 kg/ha + KSB @ 6 kg/ha; N2: 50 % N + 100 % P + 50 % K + Azotobacter @ 5 kg/ha + KSB @ 6 kg/ha; N3:50 % N + 50 % P + 100 % K + Azotobacter @ 5 kg/ha + PSB @ 5 kg/ha) and bioformulations (B1: Trichoderma viride @ 10 mL/L + neem oil @ 0.5 % ; B2: Pseudomonas fluorescence @ 10 mL/L + pongamia oil @ 0.5 % ; B3: Bacillus subtilis @ 10 mL/L + sesame oil @ 1 %) with ten treatments including control (100 % RDF + Imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 0.3 mL/L). Among all treatments the least mean population of thrips (1.94 per plant) and percentage of thrips infestation (1.64 %) was recorded under control (Imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 0.3 mL/L) and number of disease infected plants (1.57 plants per plot) and disease incidence (1.96 % per plot) and the highest yield of 6.52 t/ha recorded in combined application of 50 % N +100 % P + 50 % K + Azotobacter 5 kg/ha + KSB 6 kg/ha along with Trichoderma viride 10mL/L + neem oil 0.5 %.