L.Krishna NaikT.R.Sunitha2016-09-172016-09-172007http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/77179The investigations were carried out on, survey of insect pests of capsicum, preparation of checklist of insect pests which occur at different crop growth and the evaluation of organic soil amendments viz., vermicompost and neem cake in the management of pests of capsicum (var. Indra) during rabi 2006 at Main Agricultural Research Station (MARS), University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, India. The fixed plot survey was made to record the natural incidence of insect pests of capsicum at major capsicum growing areas in and around Dharwad and Belgaum. The survey results revealed the occurrence of cutworm (30 to 40%), aphids (0.00 to 1.60 nymphs and adults/3 leaves), thrips (0.00 to 2.00 nymphs and adults/3 leaves), termites (0 to 20% damage), fruit borer (20.68 to 26.16% damage) and non insect pests viz., mites (0.00 to 2.60 nymphs and adults/3 leaves) and snails (20% damage) as major pests in the main field. The insect and non insect pests infesting capsicum crop were snails (20% damage), cut worm (20 to 30% damage), termites (40% damage) and ants (30% damage) at nursery stage and aphids (1.20 to 1.60 nymphs and adults/3 leaves), thrips (0.60 to 2.30 nymphs and adults/3 leaves), mites (0.00 to 1.20 nymphs and adults/3 leaves) and fruit borer (12.50% damage) were the major pests during vegetative phase till harvest in main field. Application of vermicompost @ 2500 kg/ha recorded significantly less population of aphids, thrips, mites, fruit borer and had positive effects on vegetative growth and yield parameters being comparable to the standard check RDF + RPP. Application of organics was found quite safe to coccinellid predatory beetle (Menochilus sexmaculatus) found on the crop during experimentation.Thesis