Comparative efficacy of certain insecticide and bio-pesticides against gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) on chickpea, Cicer arietinum (L.)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the research plot of the Department of Agricultural Entomology at the Central Research Field, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, India, during the Rabi season of 2023. The treatments selected for this experiment were Spinosad, Flubendiamide, Indoxacarb, Neem oil + Indoxacarb, Nisco sixer plus + Novaluron, Emamectin benzoate, Neem seed kernel extract and control to observe the efficacy of the treatments and the cost benefit ratio. The treatments were sprayed for two times to control the pod borers having crossed their ETL levels at an interval of 15 days. Observations i.e. the larval counts (5 random plants/plot) were taken in an order of day before spray, 3rd, 7th and 14th days after spray. The results revealed that the treatments were successful in bringing down the pest infestation and superior over control. Among all the treatments applied, lowest larval population of gram pod borer was observed in Spinosad 45 SC (1.13) showing a highest yield of 27.22 q/ha against the control yielding only upto 10.42 q/ha. At the same time, the benefit cost ratios of the treatments stands like Spinosad 45% SC (1:3.74) followed by Neem oil 1% + Indoxacarb 14.5 EC (1:3.53), Indoxacarb 14.5 EC (1:3.41), Emamectin benzoate 5SG (1:3.28), Nisco sixer plus + Novaluron 10% EC (1:2.77), Flubendiamide 480 SC (1:2.68), Neem seed kernel extract 5% (1:2.02) as compared to control (1:0.86).