Field Evaluation of BIPM Module for Insect Pest Management in Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.) in Assam

Background: Green gram (Vigna radiata L.) is a vital pulse crop in Assam, but its productivity is constrained by insect pests such as whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae); the leaf roller Nacoleia vulgalis (Guenée)(Lepidoptera: Crambidae); the gram pod borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae); the pod bug, Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Alydidae), Nezara viridula (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and the aphid Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Farmers generally rely on indiscriminate pesticide use, leading to ecological and economic concerns. Bio-Intensive Pest Management (BIPM) offers an eco-friendly alternative by integrating botanicals, biopesticides and cultural practices. Methods: Field experiments were conducted during 2021-22 to 2023-24 at multiple locations across Assam to evaluate the efficacy of a BIPM module against major insect pests of green gram. The BIPM module comprised: (i) two rows of sesame as a barrier crop, (ii) timely weeding at 30 DAS, (iii) installation of yellow sticky traps (30 cm × 20 cm) @ 30/ha at 30 DAS and (iv) spray of Azadirachtin 300 ppm @ 5 ml/L at vegetative stage; compared with farmers’ practice (FP: Weeding + application of chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 0.3 ml/L). Pest incidence, pod damage, yield and benefit-cost ratio were recorded and statistically analyzed for different years at varied locations. Result: The BIPM module significantly reduced pest incidence compared to FP. Pooled mean whitefly and leaf roller incidence were 0.84/trifoliate leaf and 1.09%, respectively, under BIPM, against 3.39/trifoliate leaf and 4.48% under FP. Pod borer and pod bug damage were also lower (3.88% and 4.65%) in BIPM plots compared to FP (16.47% and 19.45%). Yield was consistently higher under BIPM (1028.07 kg/ha), representing a 13.39% increase over FP (906.63 kg/ha). Location-wise trials confirmed the superiority of BIPM, with yield advantages ranging from 6.49% to 34.84%. The benefit-cost ratio (1:2.06-1:2.52) was also higher in BIPM plots. Multi-location trials confirmed 6.49-34.84% yield advantage of BIPM across diverse agro-ecological zones of Assam. The findings suggest that the BIPM module provides a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to pesticide-based practices for effective pest management in green gram, with positive implications for productivity and profitability.