The conservation agriculture (CA) production system
is a realistic and sustainable solution for restoring soil
health in maize–mustard–greengram-based cropping
system without compromising the production and
productivity. However, the incidence and infestation of
the few insect pests like cutworms and mealybugs in
rice are getting altered due to CA practices. Therefore
a study was carried out on incidence and infestation of
Bihar hairy caterpillar, Spilosoma obliqua, in Zaid greengram crop in a 14-year-old maize–mustard–greengrambased CA system. A significant (P < 0.05%) incidence
and infestation of S. obliqua were recorded as 19.47 larvae/plant and 23.33% respectively, in the greengram
crop with maize and mustard residues at 52 days after
sowing (DAS) as compared to 6.6 larvae/plant and
13.3% respectively, in the greengram without residues.
Crop residue retention in the field possibly promoted
the continued existence and proliferation of S. obliqua
in greengram. Sustainable CA-based agricultural systems
must also examine how maize and mustard residues influence the emergence of S. obliqua. In conclusion, this
is the report on S. obliqua emergence in CA-based summer greengram.