Sudhendu Sharma ¹, Naveen Aggarwal ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141 004, Punjab, IN

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.

Keywords

Aromatic Rice, Biopesticides, Leaffolder, Planthoppers, Stemborer.

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Naveen Aggarwal ¹, Jawala Jindal ²

Affiliations
1 Biocontrol Section, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141 004, Punjab, IN
2 Maize Section, Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141 004, Punjab, IN

Abstract

The management of maize stem borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) with Trichogramma chilonis @ 100,000 ha^-1) at 12 days after germination (DAG) was compared with farmer's practice of two sprays of deltamethrin (Decis 2.8 EC @ 200 ml ha^-1 at 15 and 30 DAG during kharif 2011 and 2012 at farmer's fields in Punjab. The mean leaf injury due to C. partellus at 20 DAG was 8.04 and 6.87% in biocontrol treatment and farmers practice, respectively. The dead heart incidence of 3.85 and 2.55% in these treatments was significantly lower than untreated control (12.10%). The biocontrol plots recovered 31.18% parasitism compared to farmers practice and untreated control (2.30 and 7.67%). The coccinellids and spiders counts were also higher in biocontrol plots. The grain yield was at par in biocontrol treatments (46.10 q ha^-1) and farmers practice (48.67 q ha^-1) while it was significantly lower in untreated control (37.13 q ha^-1). Similarly, the net returns to the farmer in biological control treatments (Rs. 10008) was comparable to the farmers practices (Rs. 12424). The release of T. chilonis effectively reduced the damage of C. partellus, increased the natural enemies in maize ecosystem and provided convincing monetary benefits to the farmer.

Keywords

Chilo Partellus, Deltamethrin, Maize, Trichogramma Chilonis, Validation.

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