Asmita Khanal, Sandip Timilsina, Anuja Rijal, Tul Bahadur Poon and Susmita Khanal
Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal
Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture Development, Kathmandu, Nepal
Corresponding author: asmitakhanal147@gmail.com
Received on: 4-7-2017, revised on: 25-8-2017, accepted on: 30-8-2017
 

DOI

ABSTRACT

A study was carried out to find out the best alternative against chemical pesticide (Chloropyriphos) for controlling potato red ant. The experiment was conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lumle during winter season of two consecutive year 2015/16 and 2016/17. Eight different treatments including chemical method and biological method were tested in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Treatments were Chloropyriphos 50% EC @750 ml/ha, Fipronil granules @ 6.25 kg/ha, Fenvelarate dust @ 250 kg/ha, Bacillus Thuringensis (Bt) @ 1 kg/ha, Bakaino (Melia azadirachta) seed powder @ 1040 kgXa, Ketuki (Agave Americana) leaves @ 2080 kg/ha, Banmara (Ageratina adenophora) leaves @ 2080 kg/ha and Farmer practice. The highest weight of non-damaged tuber, minimum weight of red ant damaged tuber, maximum total tuber yield per plot and minimum tuber loss (%) were observed from Chloropyriphos application followed by Banmara leaves and Ketuki leaves application. Due to the residual effect of chemical insecticide, use of biological control becomes crucial.  To address the human health, soil health and environment health, using the Banmara and Ketuki leaves against Chloropyriphos can be the alternatives.