Comparative efficacy of insecticides, biopesticides and neem formulations against helicoverpa armigera on chick pea

The efficacy of four insecticides i.e. indoxacarb, thiamethoxam, spinosad and endosulfan; three biopesticides (two Bacillus thuringiensis based bioinsecticides) namely halt, biolep and Ha NPV and two neem formulations viz., nimbicidine and neemarine was assessed. Indoxacarb caused maximum larval mortality after one week of two sprayings i.e. 99.4 and 98.3% after first and second spraying of 2005–2006, respectively which was closely followed by thiamethoxam and spinosad. Among biopesticides, the maximum larval mortality after one week of spraying was achieved in halt i.e. 42.2% after first spraying and 42.8% after second spraying which was closely followed by Ha NPV. Both the neem based formulations were on par among each other but significantly superior over control. The maximum grain yield (1425 kg/ha) was recorded in indoxacarb with minimum % pod damage (12.5%) and a CB ratio of 1:12.38 was found among all the treatments but greatest CB ratio was recorded in spinosad (1:15.45). Among biopesticides and neem formulations halt and nimbicidine produced superior grain yield, less pod damage and balanced CB ratio over rest of the biopesticides and neemarine.