Efficacy of different botanicals against gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner and pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa Malloch in pigeonpea

The efficacy of various botanicals against the gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner, and the pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa Malloch, in pigeonpea was tested in a field experiment carried out during Kharif, 2018–19, 2019–20, and 2020–21 at the Agricultural Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Derol, Gujarat, India. Determining the effectiveness of botanical extracts mainly some challanges affected such as botanical cost, application feasibility and farmer acceptance made complicated for pest management strategies in pigeonpea cultivation. The larval population of H. armigera was found to be considerably reduced in the plot treated with neem seed kernel extract at 5 percent and it was at par with azadirachtin at 0.15 EC @ 0.0006 percent and neem oil at 0.5 percent. A similar trend was also noted in terms of the percentage of harvested pod damage due to H. armigera; 5 percent of neem seed kernel extract had a significantly lower pod damage and was comparable to azadirachtin 0.15 EC 0.0006 percent. The lowest per cent grain damage due to pod fly, M. obtusa was noticed in a plot treated with azadirachtin 0.15 EC 0.0006 percent and it was at par with neem seed kernel extract 5 percent. Significantly higher seed yield was obtained in the treatment of neem seed kernel extract 5 per cent and it was at par with azadirachtin 0.15 EC 0.0006 percent. The highest ICBR was also recorded in the treatment of neem seed kernel extract at 5 percent.