THAKUR, MEENAATTYEE, SAYEED NABI2016-11-222016-11-22201548345http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/87050ABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Studies on biopesticidal properties and composting behaviour of Parthenium hysterophorous L.” was conducted at experimental farm and laboratory conditions of the department of Environmental Science, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan, located at 76o42” to 77o20”E longitude, 30o54” to 31o15”N latitude and at an elevation of 1453 m amsl, during the period 2014-2015. P. hysterophorous L. (Asteraceae) known by different names, but popularly called as Congress Grass is an exotic species which has spread rapidly and extensively throughout the world since 1970. It is capable of growing on a wide range of soil types ranging from sandy to heavy clays and in areas with summer rainfall >500 mm per annum. One of the most effective methods to manage it is the large scale utilization of the weed. The weed has been well documented for its bio-pesticidal properties, further the compost from P. hysterophorous contains enough quantity of various essential macro and micro plant nutrients. Therefore, in the present study bio-pesticidal properties and composting behaviour of Parthenium compost was studied. The insect-pests selected for the study were Pieris brassicae a serious pest of Cruciferous crops and Spodoptera litura a polyphagous pest. The toxicity of Parthenium to fungal pathogens viz., Alternaria alternate, Sclerotium rolfsii, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium expansum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Aspergillus niger was also studied. No per cent egg hatching of P. brassicae was recorded at the highest tested concentration (5.0%) of petroleum ether and aqueous extracts of P. hysterophorous, whereas, 21.43 and 22.31 per cent egg hatching was recorded for S. litura at petroleum ether and aqueous extracts at 5.0 per cent. After 48 hrs of exposure of first instar of P. brassicae cent per cent mortality was recorded at 5.0 and 2.5 per cent concentration. For second instar, 73.33 per cent mortality was recorded after 48 hrs at 2.5 per cent of petroleum ether extract. Aqueous extract of P. hesterophorous also provided good control with 73.34 per cent mortality of first and 70.00 per cent of second instar after 48 hrs of exposure. The petroleum ether extract and aqueous extract of P. hesterophorous provided 50.00 and 60.00 per cent mortality of first instar of S. litura when fed on treated castor leaves. Among the phytopathogens, 10 per cent aqueous extract of P. hesterophorous recorded maximum per cent growth inhibition of Sclerotium rolfsii (59.49%). The compost prepared at different combination was dark brown, free flowing and took approximately 18 weeks for completion. Compost with E. fetida inoculum had high N, P, K content and low organic carbon and C/N ratio. The per cent recovery of compost ranged from 42.18-62.77 per cent. Highest percent recovery (62.77%) was recorded for compost prepared from Parthenium mixed with cow dung inoculated with E. fetida. For effective utilization of the farming community aqueous extract of P. hysterophorous can be effectively incorporated for the management of early instars of P. brassicae and S. litura. Parthenium composting at low amendments with cow dung and E. fetida inoculum may help in its eradication for better utilization.enThesis