Silicon accumulation in leaves reduces the population of shoot and fruit borer, Earias vitella (Fab.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and enhances the yield of bhendi

Abstract Using organic amendments, such as biochar as a source of silicon can enhance plant resistance to various biotic stresses including insect pests and helps to minimize the overuse of pesticides. A field experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design (RBD) using a bhendi variety Arka Anamika with twelve treatments and replicated thrice. Treatments involving various rates of basal application of silicon sources such as biochar and Rice Husk Ash (RHA) with the alternate foliar sprays of potassium silicate and azadirachtin to examine the effectiveness of biochar against bhendi shoot and fruit borer. The results of the filed experiments revealed that seed treatment with biochar @ 100 g/kg of seeds + basal application of biochar @ 75 kg/ha + foliar spray of 1% potassium silicate on 30 and 60 days after sowing (DAS) and 1% azadirachtin on 45 and 75 DAS (T₉), showed a significant reduction in the population of bhendi shoot and fruit borer. This might be due to the high amount of silicon content compared to the other treatments. It was followed by seed treatment with biochar @ 100 g/kg of seeds + basal application of RHA @ 75 kg/ha + foliar spray of 1% potassium silicate applied on 30 and 60 DAS and 1% azadirachtin applied on 45 and 75 DAS (T₁₀). The per cent reduction over untreated check observed was 52.28% in the treatment (T₉), whereas it was 47.07% in the T₁₀.