Ecological Engineering Demonstrations in Cole Crops an Experience.गोभी वर्गीयसब्जियों मेंइकोलॉजिकल इंजीनियरिंगप्रदर्शनका एक अनुभव

  Growing of another crop or crops along with the main crop or crops is called as companion Farming .This is done for particular purpose  to manipulate the habits of different pests and defenders found in a crop field is also referred as Ecological Engineering.  A demonstration of Ecological Engineering in cole crops conducted by the Directorate of plant protection,quarantine and Storage during Krishi Vasant 2014 held from 09-13 Feb,2014 at Central Institute for Cotton Research ,Nagpur.In this demonstration the Cole crops were bordered by Su flower,Mustard,Merigold,and Coriender crops .Sunflowers was the tallest crop able to attract eggs of Helicoverpa pest .It was followed by two rows of Mustard crop to attract Chrysoperla and Lady bird beetle types of benefecial insects . Again it was followed by one row of Merigold crop . The whole sequence is further followed by two rows of Coriender crop which is  being an excellent crop for attracting different natural enemies of different crop pests of these Cole crops .These crops  were sown right from border of the field to towards  inside of the field and  main cole crops respectively.

  Merigold crop was preferable crop for egg laying of Helicoverpa.  It was observed that Cabbage and Cauliflower crops were found affected with Aphid and the Aphid population on Cole crops was found parasitized by Aphidius, a potential parasitoid of Aphid .This parasitoid could be able to manage the Aphid population on  these cole   crops . This demonstration was visited by thousands of the farmers Visited  Krishi Vasant 2014 at Nagpur along with Hon the then President of India  Shri Pranabh Mukherjee  ji. They were impressed by seeing the role of Parasitoid Aphidius on Aphid for managing the population of Aphid on these cole crops ie Cabbage and Cauliflower without use of chemical pesticides.