Post-transplant Foliar Sprays of Insecticides against Cutworms affecting Crucifers in Highlands of North West Himalaya

Evaluation of five insecticides and a botanical as foliar sprays for controlling cutworms in transplanted cauliflower revealed that deltamethrin 1% + triazophos 35 EC (1.0 mL L⁻¹), chlorpyriphos 20 EC (0.05%) and quinalphos 25 EC (0.05%) were relatively more effective than thiamethoxam 25 WG (0.005%) and imidacloprid 70 WG (0.006%) in reducing the pest population, plant infestation and plant damage. Deltamethrin 1% + triazophos 35 EC (1.0 mL L⁻¹) was the best resulting up to 92.7 per cent reduction in cutworm population, 97.2 per cent in plant infestation and 88.5 per cent in plant damage over pre-treatment, 14 days after first spray. Two sprays of these insecticides done at fortnightly interval effectively checked cutworm menace in cauliflower. Neembaan 10000 ppm (5.0 mL L⁻¹) was comparatively less effective than these insecticides in containing the cutworm incidence.