Field Evaluation of Microbial Insecticides and Insect Growth Regulators Against Gram Pod Borer, Helicoverpa Armigera (Hubner) in Chickpea

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the microbial insecticides and insect growth regulators against Gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) in chickpea. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with three replications and seven treatments during Rabi, 2020-21 at Crop Research Centre (CRC), SVPUA&T, Meerut-250110 (UP). The seasonal incidence of H. armigera was observed from 52th standard meteorological week up to 14th standard meteorological week. The maximum incidence was observed during 10th standard meteorological week with 24.67 larvae per ten plants. The correlation of gram pod borer larval population was found significant and positive with maximum temperature (r= 0.624) and minimum temperature (r= 0.651) and a non-significant and negative correlation with morning relative humidity (r= -0.642), evening relative humidity (r= -0.615) and rainfall (r= -0.226) during Rabi, 2020-21. Among all the treatments i.e. Bt @ 1.5 Kg/ ha, Ha NPV @ 250 LE / ha, Spinosad 45 SC @ 250 ml/ ha, Emamectin benzoate 1.9 EC @ 500 ml/ ha, Novoluron 10 EC @ 750 ml/ ha and Lufenuron 50 EC @ 500 ml/ ha, the insecticide Spinosad 45 SC @ 250 ml/ ha was found best in reducing the number of H. armigera with minimum of 1.33 and 0.33 larvae per ten plants at 3 and 7 days, respectively after second spray and also found effective with minimum pod infestation of 6.33 per cent. The Emamectin benzoate 1.9 EC @ 500 ml/ ha was second best treatment with 1.67 and 1.00 larvae per ten plants at 3 and 7 days, respectively after second spray and found effective with pod infestation of 7.66 per cent. The treatment Spinosad 45 SC @ 250 ml/ ha was found best with maximum grain yield (21.09 q/ ha) and maximum returns (Rs. 61896.8/ ha) and highest cost benefit ratio (1:12.89) followed by Emamectin benzoate 1.9 EC @ 500 ml/ ha (17.58q/ ha, Rs.42230.2/ ha, 1:10.75) and Novoluron 10 EC @ 750 ml/ ha (16.53 q/ ha, Rs. 33586.4/ ha, 1:10.75).