Synthetic Pheromone Lure and Apical Clipping Affects Productivity and Profitability of Eggplant and Cucumber

ABSTRACT Increased use of purchased pesticides limits smallholder farmer profitability and may cause harmful effects to human health and the environment. Alternative production practices may be able to alleviate pest problems and improve yield for smallholder growers. On-farm trials were conducted at Baliakandi, Rajbari (inland region), and Dashmina, Patuakhali, and Charfession, Bhola (coastal region), in Bangladesh to evaluate yield and yield components of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and income of farmers using alternative production practices. Eggplant was grown with and without a pheromone lure at Baliakandi, Rajbari; cucumber was grown with and without a pheromone lure at Dashmina, Patuakhali; and with and without apical clipping at Charfession, Bhola. At Baliakandi, eggplant yielded 15.8 t∙ha−1 with a pheromone lure compared with 13.7 t∙ha−1 without a pheromone lure, a 15.3% yield improvement. At Charfession, the highest cucumber yield of 20.8 t∙ha−1 was obtained with apical clipping compared with 17.9 t∙ha−1 without apical clipping, a 16.2% yield improvement. The highest gross return and gross margin were in fields with alternative production practices at all locations. The difference of gross margin between cucumber grown with and without a pheromone lure was US$668∙ha−1 at Dashmina. Use of insect lures and/or apical clipping can improve yield.