Effect of foliar nutrient application of lac insect Kerria lacca (Kerr.) on Schleichera oleosa

The effect of foliar nutrient application on lac insect populations and lac production in Schleichera oleosa was studied on a lac grower's field during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 cropping seasons in the Aghani Kusmi lac crop at Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh. The study included five treatments: Micronutrients, Plant Growth Regulator (Chlormequat chloride 50% SL), Zinc, Boron, and Humic acid. Each treatment involved three foliar sprays applied at 30, 45, and 60 days after Brood Lac Inoculation (BLI).The results showed that the highest number of lac insects settled in the PGR treatment, followed by Zinc, Boron, Micronutrients, and Humic acid. There was a significant difference between PGR, Micronutrients, and Humic acid, while the Zinc and Boron treatments were comparable to PGR in terms of lac insect density at 30 days after BLI.The PGR treatment also recorded the highest survival percentage of lac insects, followed by Zinc, Boron, Micronutrients, and Humic acid. The mean fresh weight of sticklac and scrapped lac per 30 cm of stick length was highest in the PGR treatment, followed by Zinc, Boron, Micronutrients, and Humic acid.In conclusion, the application of PGR significantly enhanced lac insect settlement, survival, and lac production on Schleichera oleosa . Zinc and Boron also produced favorable results, though not as pronounced as PGR. Micronutrients and Humic acid treatments yielded lower results in terms of lac insect density and overall yield.