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

Aphis craccivora Koch, commonly known as the cowpea aphid, is considered as a significant agricultural pest of cowpea. From the seedling to the pod-bearing stage, both nymphs and adults create serious damage to plants by draining their sap. During the investigation, the efficacy of botanical insecticides against aphids has been studied. Seven botanical insecticides were evaluated to find an effective and ecofriendly treatment against the aphids. Azadirachtin 1500 ppm @ 5 ml/lit, Neem Seed Kernel Extract (NSKE) 5 percent, Dashparni ark @ 2 ml/lit, Eucalyptus oil @ 1 ml/lit, Karanja oil @ 1 ml/lit, Lantana camara extract 5 percent and Neem oil @ 5 ml/lit were tested in two sprays. Observations were recorded at 1 day before spray and at 3, 5, 7 and 10 days after spraying. Results indicated that all the evaluated botanical insecticides significantly reduced aphid population compared over the untreated control. Among them, Azadirachtin 1500 ppm @ 5 ml/lit emerged as the most effective treatment, which consistently recorded the lowest aphid population across all intervals and both sprays. Neem Seed Kernel Extract 5 percent and Neem oil @ 5 ml/lit also showed higher efficacy. The highest green fodder yield was recorded in the plot sprayed with Azadirachtin 1500 ppm @ 5 ml/lit which recorded 346.90 q/ha which showed 28.82 percent increase in the green fodder yield over the untreated control (269.28 q/ha). The highest incremental cost benefit ratio was recorded in Dashparni ark @ 2 ml/lit with a ratio of 1:6.36.