Field efficacy of insecticides and bioinoculants against white grub in sugarcane

Among the insecticides treated against white grub at 15 days after treatment (DAT) imidacloprid 17.8 SL was found significantly superior in reducing the white grub population, followed by chlorantraniliprole, phorate, carbofuran and fipronil. Significant highest yield was recorded (105.4 t/ha) with B: C ratio of 2.37 compared to the untreated control. At 30 DAT, all the insecticides were found superior over untreated control. Regarding the bioinoculants, Metarhizium anisopliae was found significant in reducing the white grub population than other treatments at 15 DAT and at 30 DAT. The pooled mean analysis showed that M. anisopliae was found superior than other treatments with highest % reduction of white grub (85.7). Significant highest yield (104.2 t/ha) with B: C ratio of 2.35 was recorded in M. anisopliae treated plots than other treatments.