Vol. 9, Special Issue 10, Part M (2025)

The present field investigation on the efficacy of soapnut based Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) formulations against land snails Ariophanta bajadera (Pfeiffer) was carried out during the Kharif season of 2024 at the Vegetable Improvement Scheme, Central Experiment Station (CES), Wakawali, under the jurisdiction of Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, District Ratnagiri (Maharashtra). A total of six EC formulation Products were developed using a 1:10 solid-liquid ratio of soapnut rind powder with different solvents, including water, boil water, water-ethanol, ethanol, acetone and water-acetone, each emulsified using Tween 20. The formulations were evaluated on two vegetable crops, okra and cucumber under natural field conditions. In the field evaluation, EC Product IV - [Ethanol + Soapnut Powder (1:10) + Tween 20] was the most effective, recording the highest 91.90 per cent snail mortality in okra and 88.29 per cent snail mortality in cucumber and was significantly superior over the other treatments. This was followed by EC Product I - [Water + Soapnut Powder (1:10) + Tween 20], which resulted in 78.25 per cent snail mortality in okra and 72.96 per cent snail mortality in cucumber. EC Product II - [Boil Water + Soapnut Powder (1:10) + Tween 20] showed 72.70 per cent snail mortality in okra and 70.27 per cent snail mortality in cucumber. EC Product III - [Water-Ethanol + Soapnut Powder (1:10) + Tween 20] gave 68.93 per cent snail mortality in okra and 68.99 per cent snail mortality in cucumber. EC Product V - [Acetone + Soapnut Powder (1:10) + Tween 20] recorded 68.33 per cent snail mortality in okra and 67.46 per cent snail mortality in cucumber, while the least effective was EC Product VI - [Water-Acetone + Soapnut Powder (1:10) + Tween 20], which resulted in 65.46 per cent snail mortality in okra and 66.06 per cent snail mortality in cucumber. The results indicated that the choice of solvent played a crucial role in enhancing the field efficacy of EC products, with ethanol based formulations proving most effective under natural infestation conditions.