Management of Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci and Thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis in Rabi Sunflower with Botanicals and Chemicals

A field experiment was conducted at Oilseeds Research Unit, Dr.Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth,Akola(M.S) during the Rabi season of 2005–06,2006-07 and 2007–08 to work out the effectiveness of botanicals and certain chemical pesticides against whitefly and thrips on sunflower (Helianthus annus L). Imidacloprid 70 WS @ 5 g/kg seed was most effective followed by imidacloprid 200 SL @ 0.5 ml/lit at 20 and 30 days after emergence in minimizing average population of white flies. Imidacloprid 200 SL @ 0.5 ml/l was found most effective in minimizing thrips population followed by Monocrotophos @ 0.05% and Azadiractin 1500 ppm @ 2 ml/l. Significantly higher yield (726 kg/ha) of sunflower was recorded with imidacloprid 200 SL @ 0.5 ml/l followed by 638 kg/ha and 627 kg/ha yield of sunflower recorded with imidacloprid 70 WS @ 5 g/kg seed and Azadiractin 1500 ppm @ 2 ml/l respectively.