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Volume 3, Issue 1      January-March, 2015

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT DOSES OF FERTILIZERS ON WHEAT APHIDS AND THEIR NATURAL ENEMIES IN POTHWAR, PUNJAB
 

Muhammad Asif Aziz*, Hira Zameer, Imran Bodlah, Muhammad Naeem and Ghulam Shabbir

Biological Control Laboratory, Department of Entomology,

PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan

 

ABSTRACT

 

Present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different application levels of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash (NPK) on the population of aphids and their natural enemies on wheat crop at research farm of Department of Entomology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan during 2013. Population of Rhopalosiphum padi was the maximum in N: P: K=75:60:60 (kg/ha) while it was the minimum in 90:60:75 treated plots. Population density of Sitobeon avenae was the maximum in 0:0:0 and the minimum in 105:60:60 and 90:60:60. Population of Schiazphis graminum was the maximum in 75:60:60 and the minimum in 90:60:75 and 90:60:45. Population of mummified aphids remained the maximum in 75:60:60 and 0:0:0. Chrysoperla carnea larvae were the most abundant in 75:60:60. Population of lady bird beetles was the maximum in 75:60:60 and the minimum in 105:60:60. The maximum C. carnea to aphids, lady bird beetle to aphids and parasitoid to aphids ratios were recorded in 75:60:60, 0:0:0 and 90:60:45, respectively. Since the population of S. avenae was very low as compared to R. padi, the treatment 90:60:45 seems to be more suited for the farmers to manage the aphids and get healthy wheat crop. Therefore the treatment 90:60:45 seems to be more suited for the farmers to manage the aphids and get healthy wheat crop. It is evident from the current study that use of balanced fertilizer is very important to manage the population of aphids in arid zone. Over application of fertilizer should also be avoided because it do not help in pest control, conversely it may cause stress on plants particularly in case of delay in rains. The treatment 90:60:45 is almost comparable with the recommended dose in arid zones and present studies confirms its usefulness on wheat in Pothwar region of Punjab.

Keywords: Wheat, aphid, parasitoid, predators, NPK

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