Eco-Friendly Management of Major Pests of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

ABSTRACT Studies were carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of different biocontrol agents against the major pests of okra, a leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula biguttula, sweet potato whitefly, Bemesia tabaci and cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii as well as fruitboring insects, Helicoverpa armigera and Earias vitella in Coimbalore, Tamil Nadu, India. The results revealed that release/application of the predator, Chrysoperla carnea (25,000 larvae/ha/release) + Econeem 0.3% (0.5 l/ha) for three times at 15 days interval starting from 45 days after sowing was found to be effective in reducing the population of sucking pests as well as the fruit borers. The percent fruit damage by H. armigera (8.61%) and E. vitella (9.21 %) was also reduced. Fruit damage in untreated check was recorded as 22.56 and 22.6 percent, respectively. The fruit yield (10,326 kg/ha) and cost benefit ratio (CBR) (1:2.60) were also higher when C. carnea and Econeem 0.3% were combined, compared to either C. carnea (9643 kg fruit/ha and 1:2.39) or Econeem 0.3% (9533 kg fruit/ha and 1:2.44) alone.