Efficacy of botanicals in managing pod borers in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

An experiment was conducted to evaluate different botanicals for the management of pod borers in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] for two years (2012-2014) at the Zonal Research Station of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India. Pod damage by Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) in the experimental area ranged from 10.64% to 23.07%. The first spray of neem soap followed by (fb) two sprays of the insecticide indoxacarb, and indoxacarb alone sprayed thrice were effective in reducing pod damage caused by H. armigera. Incidence of Maruca vitrata (Geyer), Melanagromzya obtusa (Malloch) and Callosobruchus spp. was comparatively low during the two-year study period. Botanicals alone did not perform well in controlling the pod borers. However, one spray of these botanicals fb spraying indoxacarb twice resulted in effective control of the pests. The higher yields were recorded in indoxacarb-treated plots (1,290 kg/ha), neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) sprayed thrice (1,258 kg/ha) and one spray of NSKE fb with two sprays of indoxacarb (1,257 kg/ha).