Management of spotted podborer, Maruca vitrata in cowpea through newer insecticides

Field experiment was conducted at Centre of Excellence for Research on Pulses, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar during Kharif, 2008–09 to 2010–11. In pooled results emamectin benzoate 5 SG (2.70%) found significantly better to reduce the spotted pod borer damage which was equally effective with indoxacarb 14.5 SC (2.98%) and spinosad 45 SC (3.58%). Similarly in pooled results same treatments were found very effective in increasing the yield of cowpea. The economics of various treatments revealed that the higher PCBR was obtained in the treatment of bifenthrin 10 EC (1:2.69) and it was followed by indoxacarb 14.5 SC(1:2.36), chlorpyriphos (1:1.60), quinalphos (1:1.48), spinosad (1:1.29) and emamectin benzoate (1:1.10). So based on the efficacy, indoxacarb 14.5 SC (3.45 ml/10 lit.) or spinosad 45 SC (1.62 ml/10 lit.) or emamectin benzoate 5 SG (3 g/10 lit.) found to be very effective against Maruca vitrata in cowpea.