PERFORMANCE OF SALICYLIC ACID ON THE SUPPRESSION OF MUSTARD INSECT PESTS IN FIELD CONDITION

Abstract

The study was conducted in the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka during November, 2014 to March, 2015 to assess the performance of salicylic acid on the suppression of mustard insect pests in the field. The experiment comprised of two factors; Factors A: levels of salicylic acid (3 levels)- S0: 0 mM SA (control), S1: 0.2 mM SA, S2: 0.4 mM SA and Factor B: Mustard varieties (5 varieties)- V1: BARI Sarisha-1, V2: BARI Sarisha-13, V3: BARI Sarisha-14, V4: BARI Sarisha-15 and V5: BARI Sarisha-16. The two factors experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were recorded on the insect pests incidence, insect infestation, yield contributing characters and yield of mustard. Statistical analysis was performed for interpreting the effect of different treatments. Aphid, sawfly, leaf miner and hairy caterpillar were recorded as the major insect pests in mustard field. Different levels of salicylic acid, at flowering stage, the lowest plant infestation (3.70%) was found from S2 treated plot, while the highest infestation (8.19%) was observed in S0 (control plot). At fruiting stage, the lowest plant infestation (4.42%) was observed in S2 (treated plot) whereas the highest infestation (8.92%) was observed in S0. The highest seed yield (1.72 t ha-1) was found in S2, whereas the lowest seed yield (1.54 t ha-1) was observed in S0. For different mustard varieties, at fruiting stage, the lowest plant infestation (4.94%) was found in V5, while the highest plant infestation (7.83%) was found in V1. The highest seed yield (2.13 t ha-1) was found in V5, while the lowest seed yield (1.22 t ha-1) was observed in V1 variety. Due to the interaction effect of levels of salicylic acid and different mustard varieties, at flowering stage, the lowest plant infestation (2.48%) was found in S2V5 and the highest infestation (9.82%) was recorded in S0V1. At fruiting stage, the lowest plant infestation (3.35%) was recorded in S2V5 and the highest infestation (11.22%) was recorded in S0V1. The highest seed yield (2.26 t ha-1) was recorded in S2V5 and the lowest seed yield (1.02 t ha-1) was harvested in S0V1. From the above findings it may be concluded that 0.4 mM SA and BARI Sarisha-16 was superior for suppressing insect pests of mustard and ensure better yield.