Efficacy of Four Commercial Neem Formulations against Whitebacked Planthopper, Sogatella furcifera (Horvath) on Rice

Four commercial neem formulations, viz. RakshakGold 1%, NeemAzal 1%, NeemAzal 5% and Nimbecidine 0.03% alongwith monocrotophos were evaluated against whitebacked planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera (Horvath) under field conditions. The minimum number of WBPH per 10 hills was recorded in monocrotophos sprayed plots (3.0) whereas among neem formulations, the population of WBPH varied from 3.3 to 8.0, 7 d after first spray. The number of WBPH per 10 hills was minimum in monocrotophos-treated plots (2.7) even 15 d after second spray, followed by NeemAzal 5% at 0.50 mL L⁻¹ (8.3) and RakshakGold 1% at 2.50 mL L⁻¹ (8.7) as compared to 30.3 WBPH per 10 hills in untreated control. The yield was maximum (44.8 q ha⁻¹) in monocrotophos-sprayed plots, followed by NeemAzal 5% at 1.00 ml/1 (38.3 q ha⁻¹) and NeemAzal 1% at 1.25 mL L⁻¹ (34.5 q ha⁻¹).