Bioinsecticides to Mitigate the load of Quinalphos against Cauliflower Caterpillars

Quinalphos @ 250 g a,i. ha⁻¹, cartap @ 500 g a.i. ha⁻¹, neem oil @ 1% and Baciilus thuringiensis var kurstaki (B.t.k) @ 0.15% individually and in combinations at half of their recommended concentrations were tested ugainst Spodoptera litura, Plutella xylostella and Crocidolomia binotalis on cauliflower. Individual treatments of cartap and quinalphos and their combination treatment were highly effective. These treatments were effective, needed lesser number of sprays (2 to 3) with longer spray interval (12 to 15 d) and high persistent toxicity order (1 to 3) resulting in low mean insect damage score (0.46 to 0.85) and high marketable curd yield (7058 to 8305 kg ha⁻¹) and input cost benefit ratio (ICBR, 1: 3.9 to 1:6.0). Neem oil, B.t.k and their combinations with other insecticides were relatively less effective but were superior to untreated control.