Harmonizing pest control and beneficial organism conservation in sunflower ecosystems through integrated pest management

Sunflower, a highly cross-pollinated crop, relies significantly on both Apis and non-Apis bees for pollination. However, insect pests often necessitate pest management practices, which, while targeting pests, inadvertently disrupt pollinator foraging and visitation, resulting in reduced yields. Recognizing this, the impact of pest management modules on sunflower cultivation was studied, focusing on major insect pests, pollinators, and natural enemies. Over a two-year study, conducted at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J), two major insect pests, Helicoverpa armigera, and Spodoptera litura (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera), alongside twenty-five pollinating bee species and five natural enemies were recorded within the sunflower ecosystem. Four pest management modules (M-I: deep plowing + hand picking + pheromone traps @ 4/acre + bird perches @ 10/acre + alternative spray of Bacillus thuringiensis @2 ml/lit and Spinosad 45 SC @0.2 ml/lit; M-II: deep plowing + hand picking + pheromone traps @ 4/acre + bird perches @ 10/acre + blanket spray of Neem oil @5 ml/lit and Beauvaria bassiana @ 2 ml/lit; M-III: deep plowing + hand picking + pheromone traps @ 4/acre + bird perches @ 10/acre + alternative spray of emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.4 g/lit + chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @0.3 ml/lit; M-IV: control) were evaluated for their efficacy against major insect pests, bee visitation, and natural enemy populations. Module-III emerged as the most effective, reducing larval counts of H. armigera and S. litura by 81.05% and 82.98% over the control, respectively, comparable to Module-I. However, bee visitation varied among modules, with Module-III consistently exhibiting the lowest mean values and substantial reductions compared to the control (56.73%). Dynamics of natural enemies revealed significantly higher predator populations and parasitization rates in modules using non-synthetic chemical insecticides, namely Module-IV (control), Module-I, and Module-II, compared to Module-III. Seed yield analysis highlighted Module-I as the most influential, showcasing a 215.95% increase over the control, underscoring its agronomic and economic superiority (cost–benefit ratio: 1:1.89). These findings emphasize the importance of integrating non-synthetic chemical insecticides into pest management strategies to effectively combat major insect pests, yielding higher returns while maintaining harmony among pollinator and natural enemy populations.