Evaluation of some methods in control of alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Col.: Curculionidae)

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Abstract

Integrated pest management as a way in reduction of pesticide application, environmental pollution and protection of natural enemies of pests, is very important. A 3-year investigation was conducted in 1999–2001 in the Grizeh Agricultural Research Station in Sanandaj to study the effect of microbial pesticides (including Novodor and Bt-Col) and traded pesticides of neem, comparing with Ekamet, using of fire (in the beginning and end of winter and early April) and grazing of farm by sheep, and reciprocal effects of these treatments on population reduction and yield increases were evaluated. The experiment was conducted in the form of factorial with completely randomized design in 4 replicates. The results indicated that grazing of farm caused significant reduction in larvae population but the wet and dry yield had no significant difference with the control. Also, differences were significant (P = 0.01) between levels of the factor B (burning treatment), and field burning in late winter was the best. Differences between the applied insecticides were significant: Novodor and Bt-Col (based on Bt), and Neem plus and Neem azal-F (based on neem) had no significant differences with the control, but Ekamet reduced the pest population and increased the yield significantly.

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