Pest Management Modules against Major Insect Pests of Okra

Among the three pest management modules viz., biointensive module (M1), integrated module (M2) and chemical module (M3) tested in field for two consecutive years (2011–12 and 2012–13) against major insect pests of okra including jassids (Amrasca biguttula biguttula), whitefly (Bemesia tabaci) and shoot and fruit borer (Earias vittella and E. insulana), the integrated module (M₂) comprising sprayings of chlorantraniliprole 18.5 per cent SC @ 0.15 mL L⁻¹ at 25 days after sowing (DAS), NSKE 4% at 35 DAS, emamectin benzoate 5 per cent SG @ 0.5 g L⁻¹ at 45 DAS, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) @ 2 mL L⁻¹ at 55 DAS and nimbecidine @ 5 mL L⁻¹ at 65 DAS and their need based rotation was most effective in reducing the fruit borer damage (71.74 per cent) and yellow vein mosaic disease (17.75 per cent) with significant increase in the yield (177.7 q ha⁻¹) over control. However, in case of okra jassids, chemical module (M₃) proved effective with 74.26 per cent reduction over control. In terms of yield, integrated module and chemical module were superior and comparable. Considering economics of the treatments, chemical module (M3) recorded the highest cost: benefit ratio of 1: 9.59 followed by bio-intensive module (1: 7.59).