Evaluation of neem pesticides against major head damaging insect pests of cabbage.

Neem formulations at different doses were evaluated against the head damaging insect pests of cabbage during winter, 2005 and 2006. Except Neemarin® 500ppm @ 3ml/lit and Ozoneem® 300ppm, all other treatments recorded 25.68–35.59% reduction in Crocidolomia binotalis Zell. Damage at 10 days after spraying (DAS). The per cent damaged heads due to Spodoptera litura F., remained significantly low with Neemarin® 1500 ppm and 10, 000ppm both @ 5 and 6 ml/lit of water that was on par with cartap hydrochloride with 37.19–41.36% reduction in head damage at 10 DAS. Significant suppression of diamondback moth (DBM) larvae/plant was observed with Neemarin 1500 ppm and 10, 000 ppm @ 4–6 ml/lit and cartap hydrochloride. The aphid population (4/leaf) was significantly lowest with Neemarin® 10, 000 ppm @ 6 ml/lit with 98.41% reduction over control (38/Ieaf). In general, there was a reduction in the natural enemies’ population with the application of neem pesticides up to 10 DAS.