Star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) is a fruit plant that has a high consumption rate, especially in the Central/South America and Asia-Pacific regions including Indonesia. The fruit fly, Bactrocera spp. become a major pest on star fruit commodities in Indonesia which can harm quantity and quality which in turn hampers export activities. The aims of this study was to identify the type of pest, the level of attack, and the type of parasitoid associated with star fruit flies in the Denpasar City area. Fruit samples were collected using a purposive sampling method, namely collecting symptomatic fruit planted in four sub-districts in Denpasar City. Identification was carried out on the types of fruit flies and parasitoids that emerged after the rearing period. The percentage of fruit damage and the degree of parasitization was also determined. The fruit flies identified were Bactrocera carambolae and B. dorsalis and two parasitoids, namely Fopius arisanus and Diachasmimorpha longicaudata. The percentage (%) of fruit damage was 83.10%. The interaction that occurs between the fruit fly population and the level of damage is also very close. In all observation sites in Denpasar City, the parasitization rate of F. arisanus was higher than that of D. longicaudata. Our findings indicate that fruit flies are one of the main causes of star fruit damage in Denpasar City and should be integrated into a more comprehensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program by the relevant authorities.

Quality and storage attributes are major concern for potato cultivators as well as processors. Therefore an investigation was carried out to study influence of different levels of sulphur and potassium on different quality and storage parameters of potato. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications of two factors with four levels of each factor. The two factors were S (sulphur) and K (potassium) with four levels as, S0 (control or no sulphur), S1 (20 kg S ha-1), S2 (40 kg S ha-1) and S3 (60 kg S ha-1) where as potassium levels were, K0 (control or no potassium), K1 (100 kg K ha-1), K2 (125 kg K ha-1) and K3 (150 kg K ha-1). Maximum value (1.48 g cc-1) for specific gravity, Soluble solid content (6.31 0Brix), vitamin C (16.58 mg 100 g-1), crude protein content(1.93%) and Dry matter content (23.09%) in tubers were recorded with S3 (60 kg ha-1) , besides significantly lower values of physiological weight loss (17.50%), sprouting (16.93%) and rotting (15.04%) were also recorded with S3 (60 kg ha-1) level followed by S2 (40 kg S ha-1). Significantly maximum values of quality traits like specific gravity (1.79 g cc-1), Soluble solid content (6.92 0Brix), vitamin C (21.62 mg 100 g-1), crude protein content (2.35%), Dry matter content (25.49%) in tubers were recorded with K3 (150 kg K ha-1), further significantly lower values of physiological weight loss (13.89%), sprouting (11.47 %) and rotting loss (9.92%) were recorded with S3 (150 kg K ha-1). Conjugation of 150 kg K ha-1 K+ 60 kg S ha-1 recorded maximum values of quality traits specific gravity (1.80), soluble solid content (7.63 0Brix), vitamin C (22.10 mg 100 g-1), crude protein content (2.49%) and dry matter content (25.92%), however S content of 0.367% was recorded with K3S3(150 kg K + 60 kg S ha-1), besides significantly lower values of physiological weight loss (13.47%), sprouting (10.44%) and rotting loss (5.43%) followed by S3K3 treatment.

Weed control study on cotton conducted during summer growing season 2005 at Sumel and Zakho (Dohuk Governorate) in Iraqi Kurdistan region, to determine the effect of different methods of weed control. Cultural practices used in different row spacing (60 or 80 cm) while mechanical methods used hoeing at 4, 8, 4+8 weeks after sowing (WAS). Also chemical herbicides such as Treflan pre-planting soil incorporated, Gallant super early post-emergence and Treflan+Gallant were used. Weeds can compete strongly with cotton, potentially reducing cotton yields .Decrease in row spacing (60 cm) was much better for reducing weed dry weight than 80cm within 75 or 100 days after sowing. On the other hand, the narrow spacing gave more cotton yield and increase up to 76.88 %, 40.81% at Sumel and Zakho locations respectively. Hoeing at an early stage or two times of hoeing was a good option for weed control. Also two times of hoeing 4+8 (WAS) was more effective on weed than row spacing. Lint yield was higher up to 408.75%, 173.55% in two times of hoeing treatment at the two locations, respectively. Treflan or Treflan+Gallant gave significant result in reducing weed biomass in both locations over two periods. However, Treflan+Gallant reduced weeds dry weights 42.8%, 41.8%, 70.6% and 71.5% at the two locations within the two periods, respectively.

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