Comparative efficacy of various insecticides used as seed and soil treatments against cutworm, Agrotis ypsilon (Rott.) infesting maize

Various insecticides were evaluated against the cutworm, Agrotis ypsilon (Rott.) infesting maize in the high hills region of HPKV, Research Station, Salooni (1768 m amsl) in district Chamba of Himachal Pradesh (India). Dusts of chlorpyriphos (1.5D), endosulfan (2D), fenvaleratc (0.4D), lindane (1.3D) and methyl panthion (2D) @ 375,500,100, 325 and 400 g a.i./ha werc applied in the soil at the timc of sowing. Chlorpyriphos (1.5D) applied @ 375 g a.i./ha, proved effective against Agrotis ypsilon, followed by methyl parathion (2D) 400 g a.i/ha. Also, the insccticides i.e., imidachloprid (70WS), chlorpyriphos (20EC), diazinon (20EC), quinalphos (20AF) were uscd as seed treatment. Imidachloprid 70 WS @224 g a.i./ha effectively controlled this cutworm. Between two chlorpyriphos methods of application, 1.5 dust applied @ 375 g a.i./ha in the soil at the time of sowing was relatively effective than its 20EC used @ 400 g a.i./ha as seed treatment in respect of per cent infestcd maize plants, 10 and 15 days aftcr emergence. Also, the yield of maize seeds obtained from such plots was relatively high as compared to untreated plots.