Evaluation of Eco-Friendly Insecticides against Major Insect Pests of Cabbage

Field experiments in cabbage c.v. Golden acre were laid out during rabi 2009–10 and 2010–11 in the vegetable farm of Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi in Randomised Block Design (RBD) with ten treatments. Each treatment schedule comprised four sprays, except treatment No. 10 which was taken as control. The results showed that in T₉ comprising of acetamiprid-acetamiprid-fipronil-spinosad, showed significantly highest percent reduction over control (PROC) of aphid Lipaphis erysimi population (84.65 and 82.92); and (77.88 and 76.04) after 1^st spray over two seasons at 3 and 7 DAS respectively. Also acetamiprid in other treatment combination, whether used as 1^st or 2^nd spray recoded significantly higher PROC of aphids than any other formulation. Chlorantraniliprole (18.5% SC @10 g a.i./ha) showed highest PROC of diamond back moth, Plutella xylostella (83.65 and 82.08) and cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae (84.42 and 84.54) at 3 d after ₃rd spray during 2009–10 and 2010–11, respectively in treatment T₄ having acetamiprid-acetamiprid-chlorantraniliprole-emamectin benzoate with corresponding maximum marketable yield (30.6 and 32.17 ton/ha). Neem baan, spinosad, emamectin benzoate and chlorantraniliprole were proved safe to natural enemies in cabbage. High efficacy of chlorantraniliprole in T₄ with emamectin benzoate and acetamiprid as other insecticides could be excellent choice in rotational strategy aimed at prolonging their efficacy by delaying the development of resistance due to diverse mode of action. Beauveria bassiana proved significantly superior at 14 DAS as highest PROC in T₅ (64.23 and 71.93) and T₇ (64.37 and 68.94) was recorded during 2009–10 and 2010–11, respectively after 1^st spray.