Influence of intercropping in soybean on the girdle beetle Obereopsis Brevis (Gahan)

Field experiments were conducted during kharif 2013 and 2014 at MARS, UAS Dharwad, on soybean (JS-335) intercropped with cotton (2: 1), foxtail millet (2: 1), chilli (2: 1), onion (2: 1), castor (2: 1), pigeonpea (4: 2), groundnut (2: 1), maize (2: 1) and green gram (2: 1). It was observed that the girdle beetle infestation started from 30 DAS and persisted up to 50 DAS, with peak infestation being between 37 and 44 DAS, irrespective of intercrops; it was low in soybean+ cotton (2: 1) intercropping system, with 70% reduction in infestation compared to sole soybean. Thus wherever girdle beetle infestation was endemic, intercropping soybean with cotton in 2: 1 ratio will fit in as one of the management practices.