Optimizing control of flea beetles through ecological engineering of vegetable agroecosystem in Kashmir

Ecological engineering is a concept of habitat manipulation to reduce dependence on insecticides. It is the intentional involvement of plant communities and insectary plants in managed landscapes influencing natural enemies survival. These natural enemies lead to reduction in pest population in environmentally acceptable production practices. Field experiments were conducted during 2019 and 2020 to evaluate impact of ecological engineering on the flea beetles, P. striolata and A. himensis and their natural enemies on brinjal crop. Three treatments with different plant species were worked out for pest management study. Results showed that Treatment I caused maximum increase in mean number of natural enemies (1.11/ 10 plants) which in turn brought maximum mean pest reduction. Treatment II caused second maximum increase in mean number of natural enemies (0.92/ 10 plants). Treatment III caused minimum increase in mean number of natural enemies (0.68/ 10 plants). The diversity of predators was documented in different treatments. Simpson’s diversity index, Shannon-Weiner index and Evenness index were found higher in Treatment I followed by Treatment II and Treatment III. The maximum mean % increase of natural enemies in main crop over control (250.52 %) with maximum mean % reduction of target pest (63.46 %) was observed in Treatment I. The mean % increase of natural enemies in main crop over control (167.44 %) with mean % reduction of target pest (54.41 %) was observed in Treatment II. The mean % increase of natural enemies in main crop over control (20.97%) with mean % reduction of target pest (48.88%) was observed in Treatment III.