Abstract

Muhammad Sarwar

As the chemical control methods are widely adopted tool for inhibiting insect pests populations in our agro ecosystem, therefore, it was contemplated to evaluate efficiency of botanical pesticide, Neemokill 60 EC (Azadirachta indica) and its comparison with synthetic chemicals, Endosulfan (Thiodan 35 EC), Cyhalothrin (Karate 2.5 EC) and Fenpropathrin (Sanitol 20 EC) against gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) on chickpea crop. Results from the present study revealed that after insecticidal applications all the treated plots gave significantly the best results for insect pest suppression than the untreated plots. Interestingly, the beneficial effects of all tested insecticides were noted on plant stand. Endosulfan gave the best results followed by Cyhalothrin, Fenpropathrin, Neemokill and the check plots in controlling larval population (0.33, 0.66, 0.83, 1.33 and 4.00 larvae/ 1 meter row), pods infestation (2.73, 3.58, 4.33, 13.15 and 39.26 %), and grain yield (1846.66, 1725.00, 1535.00, 1405.00 and 1211.66 gram/ 6 m2 ), respectively. Results from the present investigations displayed that although both the botanical and synthetic insecticides contributed in reducing the pest population over the untreated plots, yet the synthetic chemicals are still the first line of defense against the ravages of insects and can be used freely when any insect outbreak occurs.