Efficacy of insecticides against pod borer complex of pigeonpea

Abstract

The present investigation, entitled “Efficacy of Insecticides against Pod Borer Complex of Pigeonpea,” was conducted during the kharif season of 2024-2025 at the experimental field of the Pulse Research Unit, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. The study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of selected insecticidal modules against the major pod borer pests infesting pigeonpea, which are known to cause significant yield losses in the crop. The effectiveness of these modules was assessed based on multiple parameters, including larval population density, extent of pod and grain damage, and final grain yield per hectare. Considering the effectiveness of various insecticide modules in recording lowest larval population of H. armigera and E. atomosa (0.15 and 0.23 larva per plant respectively) and percent pod damage (4.88%) and grain damage (3.10%) due to lepidopteran borer (H. armigera and E. atomosa) was registered in module M5 which was found at par with module M1, while in the case of pod fly, module M5 recorded the lowest larval population (0.08 larvae/25 pods) and lowest percent pod damage (5.55%) and grain damage(3.70%), followed by module M1, which were mostly found at par with each other. At the time of harvest lowest percent pod damage (4.26%) and grain damage (3.64%) due to pod borer complex was registered in module M5, which was found at par with module M1.