Bioefficacy of Selective Insecticides against Lepidopteran Pod Borers in Pigeonpea

Field trial was conducted to evaluate comparative efficacy of six insecticides against pod borer complex viz., gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hubner), pod fly (Melanagromyza obtusa Malloch), flower webber cum borer (Maruca vitrata Geyer), and plume moth (Exelastis atomosa Walsingham). Among all the chemicals, flubendiamide 480 SC at 60 g a.i. ha−1 was found to be the most effective with a maximum reduction in lepidopteran pod borers with pod damage, grain damage and weight loss of 5.3, 3.3 and 2.9 per cent, respectively followed by lambda-cyhalothrin 5 EC at 25 g a.i. ha−1 (8.0, 3.4 and 2.9%) and beta-cyfluthrin 25 SC at 18.8 g a.i. ha−1 (10.3, 6.4 and 5.6%), respectively. The highest net profit was obtained from the treatment flubendiamide 480 SC at 60 g a.i. ha−1 (Rs. 12,638) followed by lambda-cyhalothrin 5 EC at 25 g a.i. ha−1 (Rs. 7092), beta-cyfluthrin 25 SC at 18.8 g a.i. ha−1 (Rs. 6462.4), while lambda-cyhalothrin 5 EC at 25 g a.i. ha−1 (1:7.5) recorded highest incremental cost benefit ratio followed by lambda-cyhalothrin 5 EC at 25 g a.i.ha−1 (1:4.7) and quinalphos 25 EC at 250 g a.i. ha−1 (1:4.4).