Field evaluation of synthetic insecticides and neem cake for the management of cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hfn.), damaging potatoes in different agroclimatic zones of India

In three year experiment from 1992 to 1994 at Patna and from 1996 to 1998 at Modipuram spraying of potato foliage and ridges with chlorpyrifos 20 EC twice @ 0.5 kg a.i./ha/spraying once at earthing and once after 21 to 30 days of first spraying was found to be the best treatment for suppressing the damage of cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hfn.) at both the places. Hence, it is recommended for protecting potato crop from the attack of cutworms in prone areas. However, single spraying with chlorpyrifos may also serve the purpose if the attack is of mild to medium intensity. Alternatively other insecticides viz., endosulfan, quinalphos, phorate and carboruran may also be used.