With advances in agro-technology, cucurbits are now being grown throughout the year. However, they are prone to biotic and abiotic stresses resulting in significant yield loss. Sustainable management of such stresses is a complex issue in the intensive cultivation of cucurbits involving high levels of fertilization and irrigation. Further, under the changing climatic conditions, pest scenarios vary constantly, with invasive alien species of pests becoming more common as a result of free trade and frequent international travel. As such, agrochemicals are being used as powerful weapons to combat the increasing number of pests and diseases. Lack of proper crop management technologies, inaccurate diagnosis, and indiscriminate and excessive use of pesticides are major causes of pesticide resistance and resurgence, environmental pollution, and hazards to the non-target biota. This comprehensive book provides essential insights into the management of biotic and abiotic stresses in cucurbit cultivation and re-evaluating the role of agrochemicals, and gathers information on insect pests, mites, nematodes, diseases and weeds, as well as on their sustainable management from scattered sources. Written in language that is easy to understand and including high-quality photographs, it is a valuable resource for students, researchers, plant protection specialists, extension workers, and growers.

With advances in agro-technology, cucurbits are now being grown throughout the year. However, they are prone to biotic and abiotic stresses resulting in significant yield loss. Sustainable management of such stresses is a complex issue in the intensive cultivation of cucurbits involving high levels of fertilization and irrigation. Further, under the changing climatic conditions, pest scenarios vary constantly, with invasive alien species of pests becoming more common as a result of free trade and frequent international travel. As such, agrochemicals are being used as powerful weapons to combat the increasing number of pests and diseases. Lack of proper crop management technologies, inaccurate diagnosis, and indiscriminate and excessive use of pesticides are major causes of pesticide resistance and resurgence, environmental pollution, and hazards to the non-target biota. This comprehensive book provides essential insights into the management of biotic and abiotic stresses in cucurbit cultivation and re-evaluating the role of agrochemicals, and gathers information on insect pests, mites, nematodes, diseases and weeds, as well as on their sustainable management from scattered sources. Written in language that is easy to understand and including high-quality photographs, it is a valuable resource for students, researchers, plant protection specialists, extension workers, and growers.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) the most common pulse crop, is exposed to attack by many insect pests, amid them Helicoverpa armigera is the major limiting factor for higher yield of the crop. Thereby a field experiment has been carried out to develop an effective pest management strategy for the crop. Side by side a laboratory experiment has also been conducted to study the growth and development of 3rd instar larvae of H. armigera along with the level of parasitization at natural condition. The finding revealed no significant difference in mean larval length, larval and pupal phases as well as pupal weight in different chickpea cultivars. The varietal screening for both years of the study revealed that BG-256 was less vulnerable to H. armigera. The efficacy of different bio-pesticides was evaluated against H. armigera in chickpea. The larval population was significantly lower in spinosad 2.5 SC @ 0.5 ml/l. The field experiment on the relative ability of various insecticides against H. armigera revealed that indoxacarb 14.5 SC @ 0.5 ml/l as the most effective one. Intercropping chickpea with linseed (2:2) resulted in lower larval populace and less pod damage for both years of study.