Field Efficacy and Economics of Certain Biopesticides and Chemicals against Gram Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) on Greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek

Abstract

In the kharif season of 2023–2024, a field experiment was carried out at the in Eight treatments—Spinosad 45SC, Ha NPV 1X109ml/min, Neem seed kernel extract 10% WP, Emamectin Benzoate 5%SG, Azadirachtin (Neem oil) 0.03% WSP, Chlorantraniliprole 18.5SC, Bacillus thuringienssis 4% WSP, and untreated Control—were used in the RBD experiment. Each treatment was replicated three times. After the first and second sprays, data on the Helicoverpa armigera larval population showed that all treatments were much beter than the control. Following Chlorantraniliprole (18.5%SC) (0.323) as the least amount of larvae was recorded among all the treatments, Spinosade (45%SC) (0.456), Emamecttin benzoate (5%SG) (0.578), Azadirachtin (Neem oil) 00.03%EC (0.712), Neem seed kernel extract (10% The highest documented larval population in this case was 1x108CFU (1.112) of Bacillus thuringiensis. However, the treatment that produced the best yield (15.36 q/ha) was chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC. An intriguing outcome was obtained when the cost-benefit ratio was calculated. The study found that, when compared to a control plot of 1:1.04, the most effective and cost-effective treatment was Chlorantraniliprol 18.5 SC (1:3.65), followed by Spinosade 45% SC (1:3.26), Emamectin benzoate 5% SG (1:2.94), and Azadirachtin (Neem oil) 00.03%EC (1:1.89), Neem seed kernel extract 10% WP (1:1.92), Ha NPV 1X109 POB ml/min (1:1.62), and Bacillus thuringiensis 1x108CFU (1:1.58).0.978, 1X 109 POB/ml/min. WP) (0.845), and Ha NPV 1X 109 POB/ml/min (0.978) were the next five treatments.