Economics and resurgence of sucking insect pests of potato against insecticides in Northern India

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to record the economics, incidence and resurgence effect of commonly used insecticides like imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and oxydemeton- methyl against whitefly,Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and leafhoppers Amrasca biguttula biguttula Isida on early planted potato (K. Pukhraj) crop during two consecutive years 2018 and 2019. The population of B. tabaci and A. biguttula biuguttula was active on potato crop throughout the crop growth. No resurgence of whitefly and leafhopper was noticed after the application of recommended and slightly higher doses of Imidacloprid 17.8 SL and Thiamethoxam 25% WG except its sub lethal doses. While Oxydemeton- Methyl 25 EC sprayed crop showed high degree of resurgence during both the years. Highest pooled mean tuber yield (21.81 t/ha) with maximum (14.91 %) increase in tuber yield was recorded from Thiamethoxam 25% WG @ 7g/10l four sprays treated plots. The sub lethal doses of imidacloprid and thiamethoxam and all the doses of oxydemeton- methyl were recorded negative and no increase in potato yield over control. Similarly, thiamethoxam 25% WG @ 7g/10l treated plot ranked first indicating the maximum return of Rs. 2.99 per rupee invested followed by imidacloprid 17.8 SL@6 ml/10l with Rs.2.09.