Economic evaluation of biorational and conventional insecticides for the control of maize stem borer Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) in Zea mays

Abstract

Maize borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) is the chief limiting factor for higher corn production. Field trials to assess the efficacy of different insecticides against C. partellus were carried in district Ropar, Punjab. It was observed that significantly lesser leaf injury incidence was recorded in biorational treatment T₁: chlorantriniliprole 18.5 SC (3.43 & 4.23) in comparison to broad spectrum conventional insecticide treatment T₃: Deltamethrin 2.8 EC (4.63& 5.36) and T₄ :Farmer’s practice 4.43 and 6.93. Whereas in plots with parasitoid application (T₂), the leaf injury incidence was recorded to be 6.56 & 7.86 during 2012 and 2013, respectively. Though T₂ was statistically superior to control, however it was not at par with insecticide treatments. Furthermore similar trend was observed for dead hearts reduction in different treatments. It was recorded to be 3.16 and 3.90, 3.33 and 3.96, 3.53 and 3.96 in insecticide treatment plots T₁, T₃ and T₄ respectively. The economic returns on the basis of marketable grain yield in insecticide treated plots was more in T₁ followed by T₃ and T₄ (51.99, 49.58 and 48.51) in comparison to control (40.44) and biological control plots (46.75). Therefore experimental data revealed overall superiority of biorational pesticide in comparison to conventional insecticides for reduction in pest damage and economic returns. Hence the option of biorational for the control of maize stem borer not only justify safety to environment but also offers effective control of borer population in maize ecosystem due to its distinct chemical class and unique mode of action.