Journal of AgriSearch, 8 (2): 117-119 An Open Access International Peer Reviewed Quarterly ISSN : 2348-8808 (Print), 2348-8867 (Online) https://doi.org/10.21921/jas.v8i2.7294 Assessment of Management Modules against Yellow Stem Borer in Paddy S BHUSHAN * AND RAVI SHANKER ABSTRACT Yellow stem borer (YSB) is one of the most serious and monophagous pest of paddy in India. Field experiments were carried out to assess the different management modules against the yellow stem borer in paddy during the Kharif season of 2019 and 2020. The results on efficacy of modules revealed that during both the years the minimum ‘Dead Heart’ (DH) (10.1 and 11.4% during the year 2019 and 2020, respectively) was recorded in M3 (clipping of terminal shoots at the time of transplanting and application of cartap hydrochloride 50 SP) followed by M2 (11.9 and 14.5% during the year 2019 and 2020, respectively) in which 1 st application was done with fipronil 0.3G and 2 nd with NSKE 5% and M1 (19.6 and 20.9% during the year 2019 and 2020, respectively) i.e. farmers’ practice where only carbofuran 3G was applied. ‘White Ear Head’ (WEH) was also recorded minimum in M3 (11.6 and 12.1% in the year 2019 and 2020, respectively) followed by M2 (13.3 and 16.4% in the year 2019 and 2020, respectively) and M1 (20.8 and 22.4% in the year 2019 and 2020, respectively) in paddy. Maximum yield (33.8 and 43.1 q/ha during the year 2019 and 2020, respectively) was also recorded in Module 3 practiced clipping of terminal shoots and spraying with cartap hydrochloride 50 SP with the highest BC(Benefit: Cost) ratio 1.52:1 and 1.94:1 in the year 2019 and 2020, respectively. The overall results of the present study indicating the overall superiority of M3 (clipping of terminal shoots at the time of transplanting and two applications of cartap hydrochloride 50 SP at 40 and 60 DAT) in all the aspects i.e. DH, WEH, yield and BC ratio. KĊĞĜĔėĉĘ Paddy, Yellow stem borer, Management modules Received on : 26/02/21 Accepted on : 21/06/21 Published online : 30/06/21 INTRODUCTION P addy (Oryza sativa) occupies the prominent place in Indian agriculture (Singh et al, 2017). The production and productivity of paddy is low in Jharkhand and as well as in India as compared to world production (Singh et al, 2009). Amongst various constraints for low productivity of paddy, the infestation of insect pests which aĴack the crop right from nursery till the harvest of the crop causing about 25 – 30% of loss (Murlidharan and Pasalu, 2006). Among various insect pests yellow stem borer (YSB), Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) is quite serious as it can cause 25 – 30% damage to the crop, which leads to ‘Dead Heart’ (DH) in vegetative stage and ‘White Ear Head’ (WEH) with chaffy grain during head- ing stage (Rubia et al, 1996). Use of synthetic insecticides is a common method of pest control in paddy among the farmers. But, the indiscriminate use of insecticides have resulted in a number of undesirable side effects such as development of resistant in insects pests, environmental pollution and health hazards to farmers (Holland et al, 2000). Due to these con- straints researchers developed an alternative, economical and eco-friendly integrated approach of insect control (ChaĴerjee et al, 2009). The basic idea of the research problem is to reduce the application of synthetic insecticides and use of cultural, botanical and chemical methods in an integrated approach. In this context present study was planned to assess management modules including botanical, cultural and chemical methods for the management of YSB in paddy. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiments were carried out during the Kharif season of the year 2019 and 2020 at 10 farmers’ field in the village Mahu- atand (Sunderpahari block) and Kerabadi (Pauriahaat block) of the district Godda (Jharkhand) by GVT – Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Godda under on farm testing (OFT) activity of the KVK. Three suggested pests management modules including farmers’ practices were tested against YSB in paddy (Table 1 ). The trials were laid out in RBD with 03 treatments (modules) in 10 replications during both the years. Twenty five days old seedlings of paddy (Variety: MTU – 7029) were transplanted in 2 nd week of August with the spacing 20 cm x 15 cm in the plot size of 5 m x 4 m. All the other agronomical practices were followed to raise a good and healthy crop as suggested by Choudhary et al (2017) . 1 Gramin Vikas Trust, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Godda – 814133, Jharkhand, India * Corresponding author email: sbhushan_bhu23@rediffmail.com 117