CHOSEN BIOCIDES AGAINST VIGNA UNGUICULATA (L) WALP

Abstract

ABSTRACT Field trials were conducted with cowpea (Vamban 1) to evaluate some selected biocides the cowpea insects. Among the biocides, spray of neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) at 5% was effective in reducing the population of cowpea sucking insect, whitefly followed by azadirachtin at 1%. Spotted pod borer, M. vitrata incidence is less in the biocides treatments. Among the tested biocides, NSKE at 5% was effective in the management of spotted pod borer followed by azadirachtin at 1%. Cumulative pod damage by cowpea pod borers was minimum in indoxacarb at 0.7 mL/L treatment followed by NSKE at 5%. High cowpea seed yield was recorded in the treatment, indoxacarb at 0.7ml/litre followed by azadirachtin at 1%. In all the seasons, coccinellid beetles appeared in more numbers in the unsprayed plots followed by biocide treatments. In insecticide sprayed plots, comparatively this predatory beetle population was less. Number of spiders per 10 plants was more in the unsprayed plots. When insecticide and biocide treatments were compared, the biocide treatments harboured more spider population. Among the biocide treatments, in Beauveria bassiana at 10 gm/L sprayed plots, spiders were more followed by azadirachtin at 1%.