Neem-based management approaches for mustard insect pests

A study was made for two successive seasons during 1997–98 and 1998–99 to assess the effectiveness of some neem-based management approaches against the insect pests on mustard. The treatments comprised of pre-sowing soil application of neem cake @ 300 kg/ha, foliar application of azadirachtin/neem seed kernel extract/neem oil @ 9 ml a.i./lt, and 1 or 2 foliar application with phosphamidon @ 2 ml a.i./lt. All the treatments were found quite effective against the aphid and diamondback moth and were significantly superior to chemical check. However, integrated neem treatments with inclusion of double spray of phosphamidon performed better that those with single application of phosphamidon and neem cake + azadirachtin + 2 sprays phosphamidon was the best treatment. Also, all the integrated treatments appeared quite safe to predatory coccinellids, syrphids and spiders. Chemical check, phosphamidon, showed poor effectiveness and was very unsafe to predators.