A field experiment was carried out to investigate the impact of nutrients on thrips (T. tabaci) infestation on onion in Pune, Maharashtra, India, during rabi season. The treatments were: T1-recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF; 150:50:80), T2-high N (200:50:80), T3-low N (100:50:80), T4-low K (150:50:50), T5-high K (150:50:100), T6-RDF+Ca spray at 0.5%, T7-RDF+Ca spray at 1%, T8-RDF+Si spray at 0.2 g Si/kg soil+0.2% as foliar spray, T9: RDF+Si spray at 0.2 g/kg soil+0.5% as foliar spray, T10-RDF+Ca (0.5%) and Si spray (0.25%), T11-RDF+Ca (1%) and Si spray (0.5%). The highest mean number of thrips per plant (44.77/plant) was observed with T1. Low and high levels of N and K had no effect on the thrips infestation. The minimum thrips infestation was observed with T6 and T7 (38.87 and 39.12/plant, respectively). Similarly, crop yield was also higher with T7 (45.33t/ha) compared to RDF (37.33 t/ha). There was also significant reduction in the thrips infestation with T10 and T11 (40.92 and 42.25 thrips per plant, respectively), along with significant increases in yield (45.50 and 43.33t/ha, respectively).
