Field evaluation of certain bio-pesticides against Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) and its impact on pod damage and per plant yield of chickpea

Abstract

Certain biopesticides (HaNPV, Btk, Bb, Azadirachtin) and a synthetic insecticide (Quinalphos) were evaluated against Helicoverpa armigera to determine its impact on pod damage and per plant yield of chickpea during 2010-11 and 2011-12. Insecticides were applied as sole treatments and treatment combinations only once at the 50% flowering and podding stage of the crop. Upon the crop maturity, treatment combination of ½ Btk + ½ Azadirachtin was observed as the best overall treatment as it reduced pod damages of the crop as 10.24% & 10.42% against 43.77% & 46.43% in control. Consequently, it enhanced per plant yield the highest as 7.14 g & 7.25 g against 4.68 g & 4.89 g in control. Whereas, regarding least effective treatments, Quinalphos-0.02% was observed with the highest pod infestation as 17.28% & 17.51% and ½ Bb + ½ Azadirachtin with the minimum per plant yield as 5.73 g & 5.82 g