Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during August 2011 to November 2011 at Thumpaipatti, Madurai to evaluate field efficacy of botanicals and fish oil rosin soap for the management of lepidopteran pests of groundnut. Five rounds of application of six botanical insecticides at ten days interval were made starting from 30 days after sowing up to 70 days and the leaf damage caused by leafminer (Aproaerema modicella Dev.), tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura F.) and gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera L.) on groundnut were recorded. Azadirachtin 0.15 EC (Neem Gold @ 1.5 ml/lit.) was effective in reducing leaf damage caused by leafminer, tobacco caterpillar and gram pod borer, recording the mean leaf damages of 8.4, 8.8 and 9.7 per cent as against 25.9, 28.2 and 22.9, respectively, while it was 25.9, 28.2 and 22.9 in untreated check. Azadirachtin recorded the highest yield of 1630 kg wet pods/ha while it was 926 kg wet pods/ha in untreated check.

Keywords: Botanicals, Aproaerema modicella, Spodoptera litura, Helicoverpa armigera