Field Evaluation of IPM Tools Against Brinjal Shoot and Fruit Borer, Leucinodes orbonalis

Investigations were carried out to assess the field efficacy, economic viability and reasons for non adoption of alternative IPM tools vis a vis pesticides against brinjal shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guen.) in Orissa, India. Egg parasite, Trichogramma chilonis alone or in combination with Bracon hebetor did not have much impact on brinjal shoot and fruit borer (BSFB). Neem (Azadirachtin) based products such as Multineem, neem seed kernel extract (NSKE), neem oil and neem cake were found ineffective against BSFB. Mass trapping alone or in conjunction with neem oil, neem cake, and neem oil soaked gunny cloths resulted in poor improvement over untreated plots. Mass trapping + neem oil spray + shoot clipping gave significantly higher protection resulting in 38.0 per cent improvement over untreated plots, but damage was still high as against pesticide treated plots. The most effective treatment was cypermethrin @30 g a.i./ha against the pest, which was superior to any of the IPM tools or their combinations tested in present experiments. Chemical control recorded highest protected yield (132.5 q/ha), additional income (Rs.53760/ha) and cost benefit ratio (1:5.3). Mass trapping supplemented with neem spray and clipping was second in order to fetch higher protected yield (55.2q/ha), additional income (Rs.8090/ha), the cost: benefit ratio was lower (1:1.4) than other less effective treatments. Nylon net barrier+ clipping recorded less improvement in pest damage over control but yielded highest pesticide free marketable yield.