Field efficacy of newer insecticides against tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (F.) on soybean

An experiment was conducted for two kharif seasons during 2013 and 2014 to find out the field efficacy of newer insecticides against tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (F.) in soybean. In both the years on 3, 7 and 12 DAS (days after spraying), chlorantraniliprole showed significant maximum larval mortality achieving a cumulative value of 79.29–84.77%. Indoxacarb showed a cumulative efficacy of 70.5372.22%. Emamectin benzoate and novaluron+ indoxacarb demonstrated more than 50% efficacy and recorded a cumulative efficacy of 56.72–56.58% and 55.92–58.62% in emamectin benzoate and novaluron+ indoxacarb, respectively whereas, novaluron showed the cumulative efficacy of 46.2349.96%. Profenophos and triazophos demonstrated the weakest efficacy against larvae of S. litura, not exceeding 40% at individual assessments. The pooled mean data on seed yield, showed an incremental yield of 11.44 q/ha in chlorantraniliprole over untreated control then followed by treatment indoxacarb which recorded an incremental yield of 9.12 q/ha. The highest cost benefit ratio was noticed in chlorantraniliprole (5.54) and indoxacarb 15.8 EC (5.63).