Efficacy of insecticides against rice yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Wlk.) on Basmati rice

Field experiments were carried out during wet seasons of 2007 and 2008 to test the efficacy of various insecticides along with check against yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Wlk.) with rice variety Pusa Basmati-l at Crop Research Station, Masodha, Faizabad. Out of seven insecticides tested, fipronil 5SC @ 50g a.i.ha−1 superior to over other insecticides, which results the lowest incidence of yellow stem borer with highest grains yield followed by cartap hydrochloride 50SP @ 300g a.i.ha−1 and cartap hydrochloride 4G @ 750g a.i.ha−1. However remaining insecticides were also found significantly superior over the control (check). Based on economics of the insecticides, cartap hydrochloride 50SP proved most economical than others with highest cost: benefit ratio (1:8.97) followed by fipronil 5SC (1:6.22) and cartap hydrochloride 4G (1:5.54) against lowest in indoxacarb 14.5 SC @ 75g a.i.ha−1 (1:2.89).