Ecological Engineering for conservation of
Bio-control agents
To make the environment better suited for the
buildup of existing beneficial fauna through manipulation of biotic and abiotic
factors of ecosystem is called ecological engineering.
Ecological engineering
for conservation of bio-control agents is manipulation of the habitat in the
crop ecosystem for buildup of beneficial bio-control agent.
Ecological
engineering is based on ecological principles in which the environment of
Agro-eco-system is made suitable for the better survival of bio-control
agents/beneficial fauna. It’s a kind of human intervention to manipulate the
habitat better suited for the buildup of bio-control agents.
For the
better survival and build up of bio-control agents in Agro-eco-system, the
following things are required:
1. Food in
form of pollen and nectar for adult bio-control agents.
2. Shelters
such as overwintering sites, moderate micro-climate, etc.
The
knowledge about the following is required for the habitat manipulation of pests
and their Natural Enemies:
1. Food
and habitat of the pests
2. Factors
affecting the growth of pest build up.
3. The
time of infestation on crop by the pests and the time of development/ build up
of bio-control agents for the pest in the crop.
4. The
pattern of the development of the pests and the level of causing economic
damage.
The
parasitoids, predators and pathogens of the particular crop pests.
Ecological
Engineering for pest management
Above ground:
To
fulfill the above requirement (pest management) for habitat manipulation for making environment
suitable for multiplication of beneficial fauna in an agro eco system, the
inter-cropping, border-cropping and mix cropping of the flowering plants is
required which provide nectar/ pollen as food for various bio-control agents
and other beneficial fauna. Growing of alternate crops as a food for pests
required for survival of beneficial fauna is another way of conservation and
habitat manipulation. The trap crops and repelling crops for pests are also
grown as intercrop along with the main crop.
The
following flowering crops are generally grown as trap/attractant under
agro-ecological engineering:
Cosmos,
Sunflower, Okra, Hibiscus, Marigold, Fennel, Onion, Carrot, Coriender, Sesame, Chrysanthemum,
Tridax, Mustard, Radish, Fagopurum, Ageratum, Alternanthera sp.,
Alfalfa etc.
Below ground:
· Crop
rotations with leguminous plants.
· Keeping
soils covered with vegetation and/or crop residue.
· Adding
organic matter in the form of FYM, vermi-compost, crop residue
· Reducing
tillage intensity so that hibernating natural enemies can be saved.
· Apply
bio-fertilizers producing bio-agents.
· Apply Mycorrhiza
and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobium (PGPR).
· Apply Trichoderma
and Pseudomonas fluorescence as seed, nursery treatment and soil
application (if commercial products are used, check for label claim), However,
bio-pesticides produced by farmers for own consumption in their fields,
registration is not required.
Above
mentioned photographs are sowing the demonstration of Ecological Engineering in
cole crops conducted by the Directorate of plant protection, Quarantine &
Storage during Krishi Vasant 2014 held from 09-13 Feb, 2014 at CICR Nagpur. In
this photograph the Cole crops were bordered by the Sunflower, Mustard,
Marigold and Coriander crops. The Sunflower was the tallest crop to attract the
Helicoverpa pest; it was surrounded by the two rows of mustard to attract Chrysoperla
and LBB. Coriander was an excellent crop for attract different natural enemies
of main crop pets. Marigold crop was preferable crop for egg laying of
Helicoverpa. It was observed that the cabbage and cauliflower crops found
affected with aphid and the aphid population on Cole crops was found
parasitized by Aphidius, a potential parasite of aphid. This parasite
could be able to manage the aphid population on Cole crops.
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