Seasonal Incidence of Insect Pests on Cowpea and Efficacy of Biopesticides against Spotted Pod Borer (Maruca vitrata)
Tejpal Yadav *
Department of Entomology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi 284128 (Uttar Pradesh), India.
A. K. Chaudhary
Department of Entomology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi 284128 (Uttar Pradesh), India.
Pradeep Kumar
Department of Entomology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi 284128 (Uttar Pradesh), India.
J. K. Babele
Department of Plant Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi 284128 (Uttar Pradesh), India.
Ashish Jat
Department of Entomology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi 284128 (Uttar Pradesh), India.
Niraj Nitharwal
Department of Entomology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi 284128 (Uttar Pradesh), India.
Ajay Kumar Yadav
Department of Entomology, School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Nagaland University, Medziphema- 797106 (Nagaland), India.
Kamal Yadav
Department of Entomology, School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Nagaland University, Medziphema- 797106 (Nagaland), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2024 at the Organic Research Farm, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, to study the seasonal incidence of insect pests on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and evaluate the efficacy of various biopesticides against the spotted pod borer Maruca vitrata. The experiment followed a randomized block design with nine treatments and three replications, two sprays including Neem oil, Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, NSKE, and others. Observations revealed that aphids, jassids, whiteflies, thrips, and M. vitrata were the major pests affecting cowpea, with M. vitrata showing peak activity during mid-October. Neem oil proved to be the most effective biopesticide, achieving a 78.8% reduction in pod damage after the second spray, followed closely by B. bassiana and B. thuringiensis. The incidence of M. vitrata was significantly influenced by environmental factors, especially evening relative humidity. These findings emphasize the potential of eco-friendly biopesticides in managing insect pests and reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals in organic cowpea production.
Keywords: Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata, Maruca vitrata, spotted pod borer, biopesticides, neem oil, Beauveria bassiana, Bacillus thuringiensis