Evaluation of ecofriendly insecticides for the management of spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Geyer) in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.)

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted during Kharif, 2018 and 2019 to evaluate the efficacy of eco-friendly insecticides against spotted podborer, Maruca vitrata (Geyer) in pigeonpea along with the recommended sequential application of chemical insecticides. Among the eco-friendly insecticides tested, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki @ 1 g/ litre was found to be effective in minimizing the webcounts of spotted podborer after three applications during both the seasons tested. This resulted in the lowest mean per cent pod damage (23.33) with 52.6 per cent reduction and the highest grain yield of 910.8 kg per ha with a yield increase of 39.1 per cent over untreated check. However, sequential application of insecticides viz., Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC 30 g a.i/ha followed by Flubendiamide 480 SC @ 30 g a.i/ha and Deltamethrin 2.8 EC@ 12.5 g a.i/ha recorded the highest reduction of web-counts which resulted in the lowest mean pod damage per cent with increased grain yield of 1145.7 kg per ha.