Integration of Some Components of Pest Management against Pod Pest Complex on Early Maturing Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

Aim: To evaluate the comparative efficacy of different insecticidal treatments against Helicoverpa armigera, Maruca vitrata, Melanagromyza obtusa, and Clavigralla gibbosa on two cultivars of pigeonpea.

Experimental Design: Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications.

Place and Duration of Study: Field experiments were conducted at Agriculture Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi during Kharif seasons of 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Methodology: The experiment consisted of seven treatments having different combinations of insecticides and biopesticides including untreated control. The effectiveness of these treatments was determined on the basis of percent pod damage due to significant insect pests on two early maturing pigeonpea cultivars (ICPL 87 and UPAS 120).

Results: There was a significant effect of variety (cultivar) and different insecticidal treatments on per cent pod damage and grain yield. However, their interaction (variety x treatment) exhibited no significant effect on pod damage. The treatment comprising of sequential application of Indoxacarb 15.8 EC @ 73 g a.i./ha followed by the second spray of Rynaxypyr 18.5 SC @ 30 g a.i./ha at 15 days interval was significantly superior in managing H. armigera, M. vitrata and M. obtusa, while, NSKE 5% - Indoxacarb 15.8 EC @ 73 g a.i./ha resulted in effective management of C. gibbosa on pigeonpea over rest of the treatments in terms of lower pod damage and higher grain yield. However, all the insecticidal treatments were found significantly superior over untreated control. The yield of the cultivar UPAS 120 was also found to be considerably higher than ICPL 87.

Conclusion: Use of UPAS 120 along with sequential application of Indoxacarb 15.8 EC @ 73 g a.i./ha - Rynaxypyr 18.5 SC @ 30 g a.i./ha or NSKE 5% - Indoxacarb 15.8 EC @ 73 g a.i./ha may be considered for recommendation in alternate sprays for managing major insect pests on early maturing pigeonpea in Varanasi region of Indo-Gangetic plain.