EVALUATION OF SOME ECO-FRIENDLY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AGAINST CUCURBIT FRUIT FLY ON RIDGE GOURD

Abstract

To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of some ceo-friendly management practices against fruit fly oil ridge gourd an experiment was conducted at the experimental held of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Dhaka. Bangladesh during March to July 2007. The experiment, consisting six different eco-Illendly management practices and an untreated control measures, was laid out in Randomized block design (RCI31)) with 3 replications. ('onsidering the early, mid, late fruiting stages and mean through out the cropping season of ridge gourd. Ts (spraying of neem oil @ 3% at 7 days interval) performed as best in reducing percent fruit inlstation by number (77.75%. 74.02%. 63.67% and 71.23%, respectively) and weight (73.871 /o. 71.48%, 62.47% and 69.41%, respectively). The highest fruit yield (17.1$ t/ha) was also recorded in neem oil treated plot (T5) and the lowest yield (13.62 t/ha) was recorded in untreated control ('1'). The length, girth and single fruit weight were significantly and posilively correlated with the yield of ridge gourd. The highest (5.7$) benelit cost ratio (13CR) was calculated in neeni oil treated plot (T5) and the lowest BCR (2.16) in T1 (hand picking and (Iestruction of infested fruits from the plot at 7 days interval). Considering the national demand and environmental saflly point of view, T (spraying of neem oil @ 3 % at 7 days interval) was the most effective management practices applied against fruit fly infesting ridge go.urd.