Explore key principles of sustainable pest management in groundnut cultivation. These questions cover topics from pest identification to integrated management strategies for healthier groundnut crops.
Which pest is characterized by its small larvae that create distinctive tunnels within groundnut leaves, often reducing photosynthetic area?
Explanation: The groundnut leaf miner larvae feed inside the leaves, making tunnels that lower the plant's ability to photosynthesize. The red hairy caterpillar eats leaves openly, aphids sap plant juices on stems, and pod borer affects pods rather than leaves.
Which biological control agent is commonly used to manage the population of Helicoverpa armigera (a pod borer) in groundnut fields?
Explanation: Trichogramma wasps are parasitoids that target the eggs of Helicoverpa, helping reduce their numbers. Neem oil can affect pests generally but is less specific, chemical insecticides are not biological, and salt spray is not an effective or recommended control.
At which stage of groundnut growth is regular pest scouting most vital to prevent major yield losses from early-season pests?
Explanation: Early-season pests attack during the vegetative stage, so regular monitoring at this time prevents significant damage. Pod formation requires observation for pod borers, but initial establishment is crucial. Harvest and drying stages are mostly free of live pest threats.
Why is the concept of Economic Threshold Level (ETL) important in groundnut pest management strategies?
Explanation: ETL defines pest population levels at which intervention is economically justified. It is unrelated to irrigation, seed germination, or fertilizer requirements, which are managed by other criteria.
Rotating groundnut with cereals such as maize is recommended primarily because this practice:
Explanation: Crop rotation disrupts life cycles of pests and diseases specific to groundnut. It does not increase soil acidity, nor is it meant to provide more sunlight or encourage weeds, which are undesirable outcomes.