Mustard Crop Pests: How to identify and manage pests in mustard crop

Mustard Crop Pests: Farmers have long been concerned about insect assaults on mustard crops. The mustard crop is severely damaged by insects such as sawflies and lahi. Sawfly larvae harm the crop by consuming the leaves, whereas Lahi insects impair the crop by sucking the juice from the leaves and stems. Production may be drastically reduced as a result of these insects.

Experts in agriculture say that regular pesticide applications and field maintenance may help suppress these insects. The Department of Agriculture has published strategies for identifying and controlling the main pests of the mustard crop to assist farmers.

Aphid

This is a serious mustard pest. The Lahi bug is a soft, wingless, winged insect that is either blackish brown or yellow-green in appearance. This insect’s nymph and adult both drink the fluid off soft leaves, twigs, stems, inflorescences, and pods. The impacted leaves get twisted as a result. Pods do not develop if the bloom is attacked. Additionally, it secretes a material that resembles honey and on which black fungus thrives. The plants’ ability to perform photosynthesis is impacted as a result.

Aphid management strategies

• Timely sowing of the crop is essential.
• Use the recommended quantity of nitrogenous fertilizer.
• Keep weeds out of the field.
• The field should have ten yellow traps per hectare.
• One liter of water should be combined with five milliliters of Azadiractin 1500 ppm, an insecticide based on neem, and then sprayed over the crop.
• In the event of a serious infestation, 3 liters of water should be combined with 1 milliliter of Oxydemeton Methyl 25 EC, 1.5 milliliters of Malathion 50 EC, or 1 milliliter of imidaclorpid 17.8 percent SL and sprayed.

Sawfly

This is a significant pest of mustard during its vegetative development stage. Adult insects have black heads and are orange-yellow in color. The name “sawfly” comes from the fact that the female’s ovipositor resembles a saw. Its larvae cut the leaves, causing harm.

Strategies to control sawflies

• The field should be plowed firmly after the crop is harvested in order to kill the pupae of the bug that is present in the soil.
• Azadiractin 1500 ppm, an insecticide based on neem, should be diluted with 5 milliliters per liter of water and sprayed over the crop.
• Chemical pesticides such as Oxydemeton Methyl 25 EC should be sprayed on the crop at a rate of 1 milliliter per liter, or Fenvalerate 0.5% dust should be applied at a rate of 20–25 kg/hectare in the morning.