Comparative Efficacy of some Microbial Biopesticides against Gram Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner), in Chickpea, Cicer arietinum (L.)

The experiment was conducted at the research plot of the Department of Agricultural Entomology at the Central Research Field, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, India, during the Rabi season of 2022. The treatments selected for this experiment were Emamectin benzoate, Beauveria bassiana, Spinosad, Heterorhabditis indica, Metarhizium anisopliae, HaNPV, Bacillus thuringiensis and control to observe the efficacy of the treatments and the cost benefit ratio. The treatments were sprayed for two times to control the pod borers having crossed their ETL levels at an interval of 15 days. Observations i.e. the larval counts (5 random plants/plot) were taken in an order of day before spray, 3rd, 7th and 14th days after spray. The results revealed that the treatments were successful in bringing down the pest infestation and superior over control. Among all the treatments applied, lowest larval population of gram pod borer was observed in Spinosad 45 SC (1.09) showing a highest yield of 23.79 q/ha against the control yielding only upto 9.03 q/ha. At the same time, the benefit cost ratios of the treatments stands like Spinosad 45% SC (1:2.81) followed by Emamectin benzoate 5% SG (1:2.74), HaNPV 2x109 (POB’s/ml) (1:2.56), Beauveria bassiana 1x108 (CFU/gram) (1:1.74), Bacillus thuringiensis 1x108 (CFU/ml) (1:1.54), Metarhizium anisopliae 1x108 (CFU/gram) (1:1.37), Heterorhabditis indica 5.0x109 IJ (1:1.30) as compared to control (1:0.69).