Organic Farming

Organic Farming

Organic Farming

The major industry responsible for fulfilling the nutritional requirement of every person is the agricultural industry. But the major challenge in the agricultural industry is the crop losses due to attack of insect pests. We are working over the biocontrol attribute of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) against various lepidopteran insect pests since 2019 at Eternal University Baru Sahib, Tehsil Pachhad, District Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh. EPNs were isolated from the soil of fruit orchards from various districts of Himachal Pradesh. Bio-formulations were prepared in the form of sponge stock as a liquid formulation. Various bioassay studies were performed in the laboratory to instigate the insecticidal potential of these isolated EPNs.

After getting the successful results under the laboratory bioassay studies, these EPNs were then applied against the lepidopteran insect pests under protected cultivation. Application of these EPNs has been found as an excellent approach in the field of sustainability. The EPNs are highly virulent, easy for application, safe for non-target animals and are the best alternative in comparison to harmful chemical insecticides. Under the protected cultivation sponge stock formulation of EPNs were applied against the insect pests of cabbage and broccoli. These EPNs were proved as a brilliant source of biocontrol agents than harmful chemical insecticides, in managing the insect pest’s population. The produce thus recovered was organic and is free from chemical residue. Even studies were going on in the Department to evaluate the insecticidal potential of these biocontrol agents in the open field also. The application of nematode based formulations will become a boon to the local farmers of this region, for the management of wide range of insect pests.