BIO-RATIONAL MANAGEMENT OF POD BORER IN GREEN PEA FIELD

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the effect of Tracer 45 SC, Vertimec 18 EC, neem seed kernel extract, neem leaf extract with concentration of 1.2 ml l-1, 0.4 g l-1, 50 ml l-1 and 50 g l-1 water, respectively and hand picking along with an untreated control against pod borer Maruca vitrata infestation on green pea Pisum sativum. Application of the treatments was started from the advent of pod borer infestation and repeated three times with 15 days interval. The treatments revealed pod infestations from 4.2 to 6.0%, 1.3 to 2.7% and 4.9 to 8.3%, respectively at early, mid and late harvest which are statistically lower compared to untreated control. The treatments produced significantly longer (5.6 to 6.1 cm), wider (1.14 to 1.24 cm) and heavier (0.64 to 0.90 g pod-1) pods as well as higher number of seed  (3.0 to 3.4) per pod. The marketable yield (862.1 to 1033.7 kg ha-1) and gross yield (884.3 to 1047.0 kg ha-1) were statistically higher in the treatments and the infested yield (33.7 kg ha-1) was highest in the untreated control. The treatments produced revealed 13.1 to 35.6% marketable yield over control. An economic analysis indicated that the highest gross return (837.6 US dollar ha-1) was obtained from the Tracer 45 SC treated plot but net return (760.2 US dollar ha-1), adjusted net return (123.4 US dollar ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (1.7) were highest in the Vertimec 18 EC treated plot. The results indicated the insecticidal treatments were more potential compared to botanical and mechanical control against pod borer.

Keywords: Maruca vitrata, neem extracts, neem oil, Pisum sativum, Tracer, Vertimec.