Evaluation of some Phytoextracts against Pod Borer Complex on pre-Rabi season Pigeonpea in North Bihar

The management of pod borers namely, the pod fly (Melanagromyza obtusa Malloch.), pod weevil (Apion clavipes Gerst.) and the gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hubner.) in pre-rabi season pigeonpea cv. Sharad has been explored through indigenously available phytoextracts during J 990-91 and 1991–92 crop seasons. The test phytoproducts were the aqueous extracts of neem seed kernel (NSKE) and green castor leaves (CLE), each at 5,0 and 10.0% concentration and neem and mahua oils and mangraila seed extract in water (MSE), each at 2.0% concentration. These were compared with endosulfan (0.07%) and untreated check. Results of the (wo years trials revealed that none of the phyto-extracts was comparable with endosulfan, whereas, neem oil, mahua oil and NSKE at their test concentrations invariably gave better performance in comparison to untreated control in reducing the pod borer damage resulting in higher grain yield. These three phyto-products, however, differed in their efficacy depending upon the pod borer species. When the pod borer complex was considered, neem and mahua oils and NSKE (5 and 10%) recorded significantly lower pod damage, its mean value being 50.2,60.9 and (68.0 and 56.1) %, respectively as against 74.4% in untreated control. Similar trend was observed in respect of grain yield.