Author(s): Arvind Parmar, Ram Subhag Singh, Amit Kumar Patel, Akshay Kumar, Awanindra Kumar Tiwari, Chandan Kumar Panigrahi and Richa Panwar

Abstract: The field experiment was conducted during rabi season 2019-2020 at Agricultural research farm of Bundelkhand University, Jhansi. The chickpea cv. Radhey was grown by following the randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The six natural resource based bioagents namely HaNPV (Nuclear polyhedrosis virus), Bt. (Bacillus thuringiensis), Beauvaria bassiana, NSKE 5% and their combinations like HaNPV+ Bt., Beauvarea bassiana + NSKE5% and HaNPV + Bt + Beauvaria bassiana were evaluated against H. armigera (Hubner). The natural resource based bioagents (alone and their combinations) were sprayed twice (first at flowering and pod formation stage and second after 15 days of first spray). All the natural resource based bioagents were found significantly effictive to minimize the population density of gram pod borer larvae. The HaNPV + Bt. treatment was found most effective in reducing larval population of H. armigera. The maximum efficacy of natura resource based insecticides were observed at 7 days after first and second sprays. The natural resource based bioagents were found significantly effective in reducing the pod damage inflicted by gram pod borer, H. armigera and pod damage varied from 3.05 to 5.04%. The HaNPV + Bt. was found most effective and had minimum (3.05%) pod damage. While, 14.71% pod damage was observed in untreated control plots. All the natural resource based bioagents were effective to yield more cost benefit ratio in comparision to control treatments, among which two sprays of NPV+Bt. reveals maximum cost benefit ratio 1:7.07 and net return (Rs- 106775/ha.) in Bundelkhand agroclimatic zone.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i2b.549