Seasonal Incidence of Population Dynamics of Gram Pod Borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hubner) in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important pulse crop in India, providing a vital source of protein in daily diets. However, its cultivation faces serious challenges due to insect pests, with the gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hubner) being the most damaging, often causing significant economic losses. This study focused on understanding the patterns of gram pod borer infestation in chickpea catrops during the Rabi seasons of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 and examined how weather conditions influenced pest populations. The research was carried out at the Student Instructional Farm of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, following a systematic experimental setup using a Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD). Pest observations were recorded at seven days interval, starting 20 days after sowing. Findings showed that infestations typically began in November and lasted until March, with the highest pest populations occurring in February both years. Analysis revealed that higher temperatures tended to reduce pest numbers, while increased wind speed and humidity favored their spread. Rainfall had a minor influence. These results highlight the strong connection between weather conditions and pest activity, underscoring the importance of climate-based pest management strategies to protect chickpea crops effectively.