Population Dynamics and Management Of Shoot and Fruit Borer, Earias Vittella (Fab.) in Okra

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to study the "Population dynamics and management of shoot and fruit borer, Earias vittella Fab. in okra" during kharif, 2013 at Crop Research Centre, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut. The aimed at evaluating the insect fauna associated with okra crop at Meerut and effect of different schedule of insecticides with biopesticides against okra shoot and fruit borer, Earias vittella Fab. The experiment comprised of nine treatments and laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The population of Earias vittella recorded on third week of July and continued till first week of October. Highest population of the pest (25 per cent shoot damage) recorded during last week of August. When average temperature and relative humidity were 30.15°C and 83.20 per cent, respectively. Efficacy of different schedule of insecticides revealed that all the treatments schedule proved better than control at all time intervals after each sprays. First schedule (T1) all spray of lambda cyhalothrin 5 EC@ 0.75 lit/ha was found most effective in reducing the infestation of E. vittella which was closely followed by treatment T 1 where one spray of Beauveria bassiana and last two spray of indoxacarb 14.5 SC@ 0.5 lit/ha. The highest yield (48.30 q/ha) obtained in plot T1 with lambda cyhalothrin 5 EC @ 0.75 mllha, cost benefit ratio (1 :9.57).