Potentiality of intercropping in managing Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella)

The present experiment was conducted at horticulture farm of Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur, Rajasthan, during two winter (rabi) seasons 2019-20 and 2020-21. The treatments include, cabbage + marigold, cabbage + onion, cabbage + garlic, cabbage + marigold + insecticides spray, cabbage + onion + insecticides spray, cabbage + garlic + insecticides spray, cabbage + insecticides spray and cabbage sole without insecticide spray as untreated control. The insecticidal treatments scheduled with two sprays, viz first spray of chlorfenapyr 10% sc @200 g a.i./ha and spinosad 45% sc @45 g a.i./ha. During both years, cabbage intercropped with marigold + insecticides spray proved to be the best treatment with the lowest mean DBM larval population (0.73 and 0.47 larvae/plant) and highest benefit-cost ratio (6.69 and 6.88). Additionally, the intercrops treatments, viz. cabbage + marigold, cabbage + onion and cabbage + garlic also significantly reduced the number of DBM larvae per plant as compared to the untreated sole cabbage. The different intercrops combinations evaluated had a positive effect on the cabbage crop in reducing the pest and can be taken to manage DBM in a sustainable way.