Management of major insect pests of potato during rabi season using newer insecticide molecules

Abstract

The field experiments were carried out in a randomized block design during rabi seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18, to evaluate the effect of newer insecticide molecules against insect and mite pests of potato during rabi season in Karnataka, India. There were 10 treatments including an untreated check and replicated thrice. Kufri Pukhraj was used as a test variety in a plot size of 3 × 4 m with a spacing of 60 × 20 cm. Two sprays were taken up, the first being given 30 days after sowing and another 15 days later based on the economic threshold level of the pests. Among the insecticides evaluated, cyantraniliprole 10 OD @ 0.20 ml/l proved its excellence against shoot borer and defoliator by recording 65.27 and 72.69 per cent protection, respectively which was followed by spinosad 45 SC @ 0.20 ml/l (51.96 and 62.40%, respectively). Whereas in the case of sucking pests viz., aphid, leafhopper and whitefly, diafenthiuron 50 WP @ 1.00 g/l proved its superiority by documenting 78.00, 77.27 and 57.79 per cent protection, respectively. The highest percent protection over control against thrips was afforded by spinosad 45 SC @ 0.20 ml/l (67.54 %) followed by cyantraniliprole 10 OD @ 0.20 ml/l (58.62 %) and emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.25 g/l (49.70 %). In respect of mites, the treatment with spiromesifen 22.9 SC @ 1.00 ml/l registered the highest protection of 70.38 per cent. The treatment cyantraniliprole 10 OD @ 0.20 ml/l recorded highest net returns of Rs. 2,65,897/ha with benefit-cost ratio of 7.47 followed by spinosad 45 SC @ 0.20 ml/l (Rs. 2,38,558/ha and 6.60) and emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.25 g/l (Rs. 2,34,400/ha and 6.72).