Assessment of Losses Caused by Insect Pests of Soybean

摘要

Soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merill ranks first in the world for production of edible oil. India ranks third in world in respect of area and fifth in terms of production. The crop is attacked by 200 species of insects, of which about two dozen have economic significance (Rawat and Kapoor, 1968). Insect pests caused severe damage and consequent reduction in yield (Singh et al, 1991 and Sharaia, 1999). Therefore, an experiment was conducted during Kharif 2003 and 2004 to estimate the actual amount of losses caused by the insect pests viz: jassid, Amrasca kerri Pruthi; whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius; tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura Fabricius; Grey weevil, Myllocerus undecimpustulatus Faust and stem fly, Melanagromyza sojae Zehntner in soybean.