Department of Agricultural Entomology, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Mohanpur-741252, (India).
1Present place of work: Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Regional Research Station, Red and Laterite Zone, Jhorgram-721507, Medinipur, West Bengal, (India).
A study was made to asses the effectinness of a biorational integrated approach for the management of brinjal fruit and shoot borer by using following components: application of fresh neem cake in nursery @ 3 kg/m2 at land preparation, fresh neem cake @ 1 kg/plant once in every 30 days after transplanting, foliar application of neem seed kernel extracts @ 7 ml a.i./litre at an interval of 7 days beginning with 30 days after transplanting, root zone application of benzene @ 1 ml a.i./plant once in evey 30 days after transplanting, clipping and destruction of infested plant parts, and single application of carbofuran @ 5 g.a.i/plant on 30 days after transplanting. Neem components, benzene and destruction of infested plant parts appeared to have produced cumulative effect strongly deterring oviposition; kept the pest population and damage at low levels and just one need-based application with carbofuran gave very good yields. The biorational treatment cut down the use of synthetic chemical heavily and this eco-friendly treatment produced much superior results than the chemical method. A low mean 4.92 and 5.32 per cent shoot and fruit infestation respectively was recorded with this treatment while the chemical method with large quantum of harmful synthetic chemical failed to afford adequate protection and recorded 20.42 and 25.24 per cent mean shoot and fruit infestation respectively.
