Field efficacy and economics of newer insecticides against defoliators infesting castor (Ricinus communis L.)

FIELD EFFICACY AND ECONOMICS OF NEWER INSECTICIDES AGAINST CASTOR DEFOLIATORS

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during kharif season of 2014-15 and 2015-16 to evaluate the field efficacy of newer insecticides emamectin benzoate 5WG @ 0.5 g/l, lufenuron 5EC @ 1 ml /l, flubendiamide 39.35 EC @ 0.2 ml/l, chlorantraniliprole 18.5SC@ 0.3 ml/l, lambda cyhalothrin @ 1 ml/l along with conventional insecticides like profenophos 50EC @ 2 ml/l, indoxacarb 14.5SC @ 1 ml/l, thiodicarb 75 WP @ 1 g/l against castor semilooper, tobacco caterpillar and hairy caterpillars in castor. The experiments were conducted in a randomized block design with eight treatments along with an untreated control and replicated thrice. The results revealed that the maximum percentage of larval reduction was in chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC@ 0.3 ml/l followed by flubendiamide 38EC @ 0.2 ml/1. Highest seed yield of 1543 kg/ha was obtained from chlorantraniliprole treated plots, followed by that obtained with flubendiamide (1410 kg/ha) and profenophos (1375 kg/ha) treated plots with 93.5 and 88.7 per cent increase over control respectively as against minimum yield of 729 kg/ha in the untreated control. The favourable incremental cost-benefit ratio of 1: 6.25 was obtained with profenophos 50 EC @ 2 ml/l.