STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT PLANTING DATES AND MECHANICAL SUPPORT FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF INSECT PESTS IN TOMATO

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in the field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University farm, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka during the period from November 2013 to April 2014 to study the effects of different planting dates and mechanical support for the management of insect pests in tomato. BARI Tomato 5 was used as planting material. The experiment was consisted of nine treatments. These were as follows- T1: Planting at 25 November + No support; T2: Planting at 25 November + Horizontal mechanical support; T3: Planting at 25 November + Vertical mechanical support; T4: Planting at 10 December + No support; T5: Planting at 10 December + Horizontal mechanical support; T6: Planting at 10 December + Vertical mechanical support; T7: Planting at 25 December + No support; T8: Planting at 25 December + Horizontal mechanical support and T9: Planting at 25 December + Vertical mechanical support. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. In case of white fly, at the entire growing season, minimum number of white fly plot-1 (16.67) was recorded from the treatment T5, whereas the maximum (33.73) from the treatment T7. For tomato fruit borer, at entire growing season, minimum number of fruit borer plot-1 (8.40) was recorded from the treatment T5, whereas the maximum (20.93) from the treatment T7. At early fruiting stage of tomato in number and weight basis, the highest percentage of infested fruit (10.65% and 10.99%) was recorded in T7 treatment, while the lowest (2.67% and 4.35%) in T5 treatment. At mid fruiting stage of tomato in number and weight basis, the highest percentage of infested fruit (11.92% and 12.62%) was recorded in T7 treatment, while the lowest (3.13% and 4.50%) in T5 treatment. At late fruiting stage of tomato in number and weight basis, the highest percentage of infested fruit (10.15% and 10.66%) was recorded in T7 treatment, whereas the lowest (2.22% and 4.21%) in T5 treatment. At total fruiting stage of tomato in number and weight basis, the highest percentage of infested fruit (10.93% and 11.43%) was recorded in T7 treatment, whereas the lowest (2.66% and 4.35%) in T5 treatment. The highest fruit yield (55.91 t ha-1) was recorded in T5, whereas the lowest yield (45.39 t ha-1) in T7 treatment. Planting at 10 December + Horizontal mechanical support was more effective for reduction of insect pest of tomato and also for highest yield.