Eco-friendly Management of Thrips tabaci (Lindeman) in Onion

An experiment was laid out during Rabi 2009–10 and 2010–11 with onion cv. Agrifound Light Red to find the bioefficacy of botanicals (Neem crude oil 4%, Pongamia crude oil 4% and Dasparni* 5%) and bio-pesticides (Beauveria bassiana 10⁻⁶ spores, 0.02% and Spinosad 45 SC, 0.025%) with chemical check Profenofos 50 EC (0.1%) against Thrips tabaci L. in onion crop. The studies revealed that Profenofos 50 EC (0.1%) proved to be most effective treatment against thrips and it was at par with Spinosad 45 SC (0.025%) and Neem oil (4%). The peak thrips population (37.00 thrips/plant) was noticed in 10^th meteorological standard week (1^st week of March) and during this period maximum and minimum temperatures were 32.1 and 13.6°C, respectively. The maximum marketable bulb yield (287.74 q/ha) and cost benefit ratio (1:9.36) were also recorded in Profenofos treated plot.