EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT SPRAY SCHEDULES FOR THE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF HELICOVERPA ARMIGERA (HUBNER) ON CHICKPEA

Field experimehts were conducted to evaluate the bioefficacy of various spray schedules for the management of gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hb.) on chickpea during two consecutive seasons (rabi 2001-02 and 2002-03) at the farm of JNKVV, Jabalpur (M.P.). The treatments HaNPV 0.43% AS, Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki 5% WP, Endosulfan 35% EC and Neem Seed Kernel Extract 2% were applied on the crop alone and in different combinations thrice at 15 days interval using knapsack sprayer fitted with hollow cone nozzle. The larval population was recorded after 3, 7 and 10 days of each spray while pod damage and seed yield at harvest. The results showed that treatments T, (three applications of endosulfan 35% EC (a) 1 lit/ha), Ts (one application each of HaNPV 0.43% AS(a) 1.5 lit (250 LE)/ha. B. thuringienses kurstaki 5% WP (a) 1 kg/ha and endosulfan 35% ÈC (a) lit/ha) and T. (one application of HaNPV 0.43% AS (a) 1.5 lit (250 LE)/ha followed by two applications of endosulfan 35% EC (a) 1 lit/ha) were effective for controlling the gram pod borer larval population, reducing the pod damage and ultimately increasing the chickpea seed yield. Keeping in view the chemical pesticides load in the environment the use of endosulfan alone needs to be discouraged.