Pest population and yield comparisons of recommended organic and conventional practices in lowland rice and eggplant-pole sitao.

Issue Date

10-2019

Abstract

One main challenge in organic farming is to be competitive with conventional farming. In both systems, insect pests and diseases pose major threats that negatively impact crop health and yield. A 2-year study (April 2014-May 2016) was conducted at the Research Experimental Field, CLSU, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Pest population and yield of three crops were compared, thus: T1 – recommended organic practices (ROP) using developed organic input (microbial inoculants + plant-based pesticides); T2- farmers’ organic practices (FOP); and T3- conventional chemical practices (CCP). Rice at 37 and 45 days after planting had significantly lower green leafhopper population in ROP than in CCP and FOP by 32.71& and 34.21%, respectively. Natural enemies (spiders, wasps, damselflies, coccinellids) were more numerous in FOP plots. Rice blast and bacterial leaf blight were comparably low in organic and conventional plots. Eggplants in ROP and CCP had less damage from leafhoppers and fruit-shoot borer compared to FOP. Pole sitao had significantly lower leafhopper and coccinellids in CCP plants. Rice yield (wet season) showed no significant difference between ROP (6.50 t/ha) and CCP (6.96 t/ha) and lowest in FOP (4.43 t/ha). However, in the dry season, CCP obtained significantly the highest (6.41 t/ha) yield, followed by ROP (4.40 t/ha); the lowest in FOP (3.09/ha). For eggplant, comparable marketable fruit weight was obtained in ROP (8.95 kg/12m2); FOP had the lowest (3.09kg/12m). for pole sitao, heaviest pod weight was obtained from CCP plot (15.32 kg) followed by ROP (11.20 kg).

Source or Periodical Title

The Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

31

Issue

2

Page

180

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

SOLANUM MELONGENA; COWPEAS; CICADELLIIDAE; PESTS; PEST OF PLANTS; NATURAL ENEMIES; PEST CONTROL; ORGANIC AGRICULTURE; CONVENTIONAL FARMING

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