Field evaluation of insecticides and bio-pesticides against Helicoverpa armigera on tomato.

A field study was carried out on the efficacy of different sequential application of some novel insecticides viz., novaluron 10 E.C., indoxacarb 14.5 S.C., bifenthrin 10 E.C., lambda cyhalothrin 5 E.C., and biopesticides viz., nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) of Helicoverpa armigera, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki and neemarin, against H. armigera in comparison with sequential application of conventional insecticide i.e. endosulfan 35 E.C. and untreated control on tomato hybrid Pusa Ruby. Results showed that among different sequential application of insecticides, indoxacarb with lowest fruit infestation of 2.53 and 2.83 and highest yield of 39.45 & 38.85 q/ha were recorded during both the seasons, respectively. While among the biopesticides, neemarin followed by Bt and NPV with mean fruit yield of 30.27 and 29.60, 28.17 and 27.61 and 26.70 and 26.11 q/ha were optained in two seasons, respectively. Relatively higher numbers of predatory coccinelids (Coccinella septumpunctata.) were recorded in endosulfan insecticides as well as biopesticidesapplied plots as compared to treated plots.