EFFECT OF INTERCROPPING WITH MUSTARD ON INCIDENCE OF APHID (LIFAPHIS ERYSIMI)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in the research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University farm, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh during the period from November, 2013 to February, 2014 to evaluate the effect of intercropping on the incidence of mustard aphid. The experiment consists of six treatments such as Mustard with coriander, Mustard with fenugreek, Mustard with radhuni, Mustard with black cumin, Mustard with wheat and control (Mustard sole). It was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Sole cropping of mustard was grown to compare the effectiveness of other intercropping treatments. The lowest number of infested plant per plot (17.82), flower infestation per plant (17.72%), total branch per infested plant (4.39), siliqua infestation per plant (65.13%) were recorded in mustard with coriander intercropping treatment. On the contrary, the highest number 33.96, 32.78%, 5.46, 98.08% respectively were recorded in control treatment. The maximum number of total siliqua per infested branch (25.73), total seed per infested siliqua (23.20), total seed weight per infested plant (8.86g) and total yield (0.49 tlha) were recorded in mustard with coriander intercropping treatment and the lowest result 17.83, 15.97, 4.67g, 0.19 t/ha respectively were recorded in control treatment. Among the intercropping combinations, mustard with coriander was the most effective treatment for the management of mustard aphid as well as producing the highest yield