Field Evaluation of Bio-agents against Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) in Maize

Among bio-pesticides, bio-agent and neem based insecticides neemarin @ 3.0 lit/ha performed best with infestation of 17.1% (20 DAS) and 18.9% (40 DAS), leaf injury rating 3.1 (20 DAS) and 3.3 (40 DAS), number of dead hearts 5.1 (20 DAS) and 5.9 (40 DAS) and 16.9% of dead hearts (40 DAS). This treatment gave grain yield (30.32 q/ha), net returns (Rs.7935.00/ha) and cost benefit ratio (6.1). However, imidacloprid (17.8% SL @ 150 ml/ha) was found best among all the treatments with minimum infestation of 15.3% (20 DAS) and 16.5% (40 DAS), minimum leaf injury rating 2.1 (20 DAS) and 2.4 (40 DAS), minimum number of dead hearts 2.0 (20 DAS) and 2.6 (40 DAS) and minimum 7.4% of dead hearts (40 DAS). This treatment was also found best among all the treatments with maximum grain yield (36.29 q/ha), maximum net returns (Rs. 11185.00/ha) and highest cost benefit ratio (9.9).