Bio-efficacy of botanicals against pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) in stored chickpea Mounika T., Sahoo S. K., Chakraborty D.*, Sahoo S. K.1 Department of Entomology, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Coochbehar 1Department of Agril. Statistics, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Coochbehar, West Bengal – 736165, India *Email: debanjan.ubkv@gmail.com
Abstract The laboratory trial revealed that neem leaf powder (6%) followed by melia (6%) and datura leaf powder (8%), recording 31.86, 40.17 and 46.06 per cent mean seed damage and 6.27, 8.61 and 10.84 per cent mean weight loss, respectively proved the best in protecting chickpea from pulse beetle under storage. Neem leaf powder also registered highest Cost-Benefit Ratio (1:2.09) followed by melia leaf powder (1:1.97). Although the synthetic insecticide showed the highest C: B ratio (1:6.17), the botanicals being cheap, locally available, biodegradable, non-hazardous to human as well as animal life and the environment could be considered as seed protectants against storage pests. Top Keywords Callosobruchus chinensis, Chickpea, Botanicals, Weight loss, Seed damage, Cost benefit ratio. Top |