Control of Pod Borer, Helicoverpa Armigera by the Use of Chemicals on Gram

Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) is an important pod borer pest of gram Experiments were conducted in the field for two years for testing eight insecticides, i.e. trichlorphon, carbophenothion, endosulfan. tetrachlorvinphos, dichrotophos, DDT, ambithion and monocrotophos for the control of the pest. DDT and endosulfan were the most effective treatments in reducing infestation of the pods and in giving higher yields of grain. One application of DDT (1250 g a. i/ha) or endosulfan (250 g a. i./ha) at the time of apperance of the pest reduced the infestation of pods to 1.1–13.9 per cent from 26.6–45.0 per cent in the control. The treatments also increased the grain yield by 37.8–54.1 percent over the control.