EFFICACY OF INSECTICIDES IN RICE IN MID - HILLS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

The paddy crop in Himachal Pradesh is ravaged by a number of insect-pests viz. leaffolder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) rice hispa, (Dicladispa armigera) and stemborer, (Scirpophaga innotata). An effort was, therefore, made to evaluate the efficacy of five insecticides viz. endosulfan (Thiodan 330 CCS) @ 50g a.i/ha, lambda cyhalothrin (Karate zeon 5CS) @ 12.5g a.i/ha, acetamiprid 0.4% + chlorpyriphos 20EC (Gharda) @ 510g a.i/ha, indoxacarb (KN-128 15% EC) @ 30g a.i/ha, and monocrotophos (check) (Monocrown 36SL) @ 500g a.i/ha, against major insect pests of rice during 2005 and 2006. Monocrotophos proved to be the most effective insecticide against stem borer, Scipophaga innotata with 2.26% white ears (WE) as compared to 7.12% WE in untreated control. Monocrotophos and acetamiprid 0.4% + chlorpyriphos 20% EC were also found to be superior for the control of rice hispa, Dicladispa armigera. Lambda cyhalothrin (Karate zeon 5CS) (3.22% & 2.82% DL) proved more efficacious than the check insecticide monocrotophos @ (4.26% and 3.81% DL) for the control of leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis. The leaf damage by leaf folder in untreated control was 15.63% and 16.74% during 2005 and 2006, respectively.