Field efficacy of plant products against spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Geyer) in pigeonpea

Field experiment was conducted to know the efficacy of plant products viz.,Neem oil 3.0%, Illupai oil 3.0%, Neem cake Extract (NCE) 5.0%, Neem Seed Kernel Extract (NSKE) 5.0%, Eucalyptus Leaf Extract 5.0%, Acacia holosericia leaf extract 5.0% as well as NSKE combined with half dose of monocrotophos 0.025%, chlorpyriphos 0.025%, endosulfan 0.035% in comparison with conventional insecticides,endosulfan 0.07% and dichlorvos 0.08% against the spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Geyer) in short duration pigeonpea APK 1 during Kharif 2004 and 2005 at National Pulses Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vamban. The results showed that Neem oil 3.0% and NSKE 5.0% were found effective in reducing the larval population and obtaining higher yields, followed by the NSKE combined with half dose of insecticides. However, the conventional insecticides endosulfan 0.07% and dichlorvos 0.08% were superior to all other treatments.