Comparing Efficacy of Biopesticides for the Management of Insect Pests in Aromatic Rice under Organic Farming System

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted in farmer's rice fields at village Saholi, Punjab, India during 2012 and 2013 to test the efficacy of different plant based biopesticides and microbials against insect pests of aromatic rice ( Pusa 1121 and Basmati 386) grown under organic farming system. In all, five biopesticide formulations (2 plant based; 3 microbials) were tested for their efficacy. Neem azal 1% @ 1250 ml/ha showed its supermacy in reducing the incidence of leaf folder (0.97-5.66% DL), dead hearts (0.98-1.67% DH), white ear heads (1.07-2.05%), plant hopper(s) population (0.11-0.40/plant) and resulted in higher grain yields (25.54-36.47 q/ha) compared with ohter treatments. Similarly, the application of Neem azal 1% @ 1000, Dipel WP @ 2.0 kg/ha, Karanja oil 2.0% and Myco-Jaal 10% SC @ 2.0 litre per ha significantly reduced the incidence of leaf folder, dead hearts and white earheads increased grain yields in comparison to untreated control. Microbials, by large, were ineffective to control plant hoppers' infestation except Myco-Jaal 10% SC @ 2.0 litre per ha, which managed to control plant hopper(s) population and was on a par with plant based biopesticides.