Management Of Helicoverpa Armigera (Hubner) Infesting Chickpea

The Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) is serious pest of chickpea crop and causes economic losses. Hence it become very necessary to have comprehensive information on pest management. The use of less susceptible cultivars like BG-372, HC-1, SAKI-9516, Vijay and Avrodhi. There was significant reduction in larval population of H. armigera in protected plots as compared to unprotected plots after spraying of effective insecticides, which ultimately increased 69.98 per cent in grain yield (683 kg/ha) in protected plots. 41.17 per cent loss in grain yield could be avoided by giving proper protection against H. armigera on chickpea. As far as the economics is concerned, the highest cost benefit ratio of 1:7.08 was obtained from indoxacarb. The highest grain yield (1850 kg/ha) and yield increae over control was recorded in the treatment of flubendiamide. Two sprays of indoxacarb or flubendiamide or spinosad or fenvalerate or cypermethrin at the time of 50 per cent flowering and second at 15 days after first spray were found more effective for the control of this pest and also reduced the larval population and pod damage of chickpea.