EFFECT OF TRASHING AND INSECTICIDAL APPLICATION ON CONTROL OF SCALE INSECT (MELANASPIS-GLOMERATA) OF SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM-OFFICINARUM)

A field experiment was conducted during 1984 to find out the relative efficacy of 11 treatments on spread and intensity of scale insect (Melanaspis glomerata Green.) infestation as well as on yield and quality of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). The treatment comprising trashing canes twice at about 120 and 165 days of crop age and spray of chloropyriphos 0.04% at 120, 135 and 165 days significantly reduced the scale encrustation. Soil applications of aldicarb 10 G @ 2.5 kg ai/ha, once at 30 days or 4 months and twice at 4 and 6 months or 5 and 6 months, were ineffective. The efficacy of spray treatments, chloropyriphos 0.04% and dimethoate 0.05%, was not influenced by seasonal variation. Although the differences in yield of sugarcane and quality of juice among the treatments were not significant, the effect of seasonal variations on these parameters was perceptible.