MANAGEMENT OF BAGGED WHEAT GODOWNS TO CONTROL THE STORED GRAIN INSECT PESTS

The study determines the effect of different integrated pest management practices on the grain protection and control of insect infestation during storage of bagged wheat under godown conditions at Multan, Pakistan. The pest management practices included: (a) the recommended practice of the grain handlers / public department with single phosphine fumigation (P1), (b) multiple dose phosphine fumigation (P2), (c) phosphine fumigation under polyethylene enclosure (PEPF) (P3) and (d) control value (P4). Populations of different stored grain insect pests and grain losses were determined. The actual storage loss following the treatment period was the highest in the control (d) followed by PEPF (c), multiple dose fumigation (b) and recommended practice (a). The total insect density at dispatch was the highest in control (d), followed by PEPF (c), multiple dose fumigation (b) and the recommended practice (a). Thus, storage losses were directly related to insect population density level. The major insect pest species recorded were Rhizopertha dominica, Trogoderma granarium, Tribolium castaneum and Sitophilus oryzae. Differential population growth patterns were observed under different protocols.