Rab Kino Khuhro
Faculty of Crop Protection, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam-70060, Sindh, Pakistan
Imtiaz A. Nizamani
Faculty of Crop Protection, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam-70060, Sindh, Pakistan
Muzafar A. Talpur
Faculty of Crop Protection, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam-70060, Sindh, Pakistan
ABSTRACT
The studies on population abundance of predators in alfalfa and cotton fields were carried out at the experimental field of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Agriculture Research institutes (ARI) Tandojam, during June to September 2000. Twelve predators were recorded Campylomma nicolasi, Brumus suturalis, Staphylinid hutchinsoni, Paederus fuscipes, Coccinella undecimpunctata, Orius laerigatus, Chrysoperia carnea, Geocoris tricolor, Formicomus antiqumus, Laius malleifer, Delta sp., and Spider (un-identified). The predators populations recorded on alfalfa through sweep net method showed that the maximum population of Orius laevigatus (1170) was recorded throughout the season followed by Campylomma nicolasi (979), Spiders(318), Laius malleifer (123), Formicomus antiqumus (60), Paederus fuscipes (53), Geocoris tricolor (51), Staphylinid hutchinsoni (47), Coccinella undecimpunctata (36), Chrysoperia carnea (34) and Brumus suturalis, Delta sp., (9) respectively. The maximum population of predators (2889) was recorded through sweep net method on alfalfa followed by (891) direct count method on alfalfa and through sweep net method on cotton (476) respectively. The better suitability sweep net method for sampling population of predators on alfalfa than direct count method on alfalfa and cotton. The population of predators was more on alfalfa than cotton. The availability of biotic agent predators are large in number in the alfalfa field indicates that, alfalfa harbours sufficient number of pest hosts as food for predators. Since, the alfalfa is a perennial crop and good source of biocontrol agents; therefore, it can be grown in strips near major field crops and can be exploited for the control of pests through predators.
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How to cite this article
Rab Kino Khuhro, Imtiaz A. Nizamani and Muzafar A. Talpur, 2002. Population Abundance of Predators in Alfalfa and Cotton Fields at Tando jam. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2: 300-303.
DOI: 10.3923/jas.2002.300.303
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jas.2002.300.303
DOI: 10.3923/jas.2002.300.303
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jas.2002.300.303