Efficacy of Botanicals and Synthetic Insecticides against Aphid, Uroleucon compositae Theobald Infesting Safflower

Botanicals and synthetic insecticides were evaluated against aphid, Uroleucon compositae Theobald in safflower during 2009–10. Tobacco decoction (2%) extracted either with cold or hot water, neem oil (0.5%) and NSKE (5%) protected the crop against pest and resulted in higher yield. Neem oil (0.5%) and all the three concentrations of azadirachtin (0.0004, 0.0006 and 0.0008%) were found safe to the larvae of coccinellids. Imidacloprid 70 WG (0.015%), acetamiprid 20 SP (0.01%) and thiamethoxam 25 WG (0.0125%) proved effective in suppressing the aphid population. Flonicamid 50 WG (0.015%), difenthiuron 50 WP (0.05%) and clothianidin 50 WDG (0.025%) proved safe to coccinellids. Maximum (1170.00 kg ha⁻¹) seed yield was harvested from crop treated with thiamethoxam followed by acetamiprid (1104.67) and imidacloprid (1026.00). Highest ICBR (Incremental Cost Benefit Ratio) was registered in dimethoate (1:14.12) followed by imidacloprid (1:10.39) and acetamiprid (1:10.00).