Field efficacy of newer insecticides against pod borer complex of pigeonpea

Abstract

Efficacy of newer insecticides viz., rynaxypyr, spinosad, emamectin benzoate, flubendiamide, indoxacarb along with endosulfan (as standard check) was evaluated for the management of pige onpe a pod bo rer complex. Fie ld experiments were conducted at two locations, namely, Pulses Research Unit, Akola (Kharif 2009-10 and 2010-11) and at Central Demonstration Farm, Wani Rambhapur, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra (Kharif 2010-11). Mean reduction of H. armigera larval population, 7 and 14 days after the treatment, revealed superiority of flubendiamide 20 WDG @ 0.5 g/l, which resulted in reduction to the extent of 96.1 and 95.4 per cent, over control, respectively. Flubendiamide was also efficacious against plume moth larvae, 7 and 14 days after application, with 83.9 and 93.3 per cent reduction over control, respectively. The superior treatment effectively restricted the lepidopteran pod borer damage (4.4%), pod damage by pod fly (7.8%) and grain damage by pod fly (6.0%) to minimal, whereas, untreated control plot had 15.9 per cent pod damage due to lepidopteran pod borers, 14.2 per cent pod damage due to pod fly and 11.0 per cent grain damage by pod fly. Treatment with flubendiamide also translated into realization of highest yield of 13.3 q per ha. as against 8.8 q per ha. in untreated control. Higher monetary returns (` 14,657 per ha) and highest Incremental Cost Benefit Ratio (ICBR - 1:6.8. rendered flubendiamide as a cost effective alternative for pod borer management in pigeonpea. Other treatments with economic feasibility were indoxacarb 14.5 SC @ 0.55 ml/ l (ICBR 1:5.1), emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.3 g/l (1:5.0) and spinosad 45 SC @ 0.3 ml/l (1:4.6) and may also be recommended as potent alternatives in management of pod borer complex of pigeonpea. Rynaxypyr 20 SC @ 0.25 ml/l, though highly efficacious against pest complex could not find a place in set of cost effective treatments.