Field Appraisal of Controlled Release Formulation of Phorate Against Rice Leaf Folder

Controlled release formulations of phorate prepared in a polyvinyl chloride matrix (PVC-10) provided a comparable control of the rice leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis as compared to thiamethoxam and profenphos in field grown rice. A single application of PVC-10 at 0.75 kg a.i. ha⁻¹ was superior to 0.5 kg a.i. ha⁻¹ of PVC-10 and 3 applications each of thiamethoxam and profenphos controlling C. medinalis in the field. The gram yield in insecticidal treated plots was significantly higher than control, the differences being non-significant among the various treatments. Predator complex (coccinellids, spiders, ground beetles and rove beetles) was less affected with phorate PVC-10 treatments and no residues were detected in rice grains at harvest.