Efficacy of Neem Kernal Powder and Neem Oil against Helicoverpa Armigera on Sunflower Crop

Abstract

A field study was carried out during 2013 at the experimental area of Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam during, in RCBD to exmine the efficacy of neem kernal powder, neem oil and Radaint against Helicoverpa armigera on sunflower crop. Four treatments with T1=Neem kernel powder, T2=Neem oil, T3=Radiant and control (Untreated). Variety HO-1 was sown on 1^st March 2013. The experiment replicated three times. The results reveled that biopesticides and synthetic pesticides were sprayed against H. armigera on the sunflower crop. The plots treated with radiant showed heighest efficacy (52.60%), followed by the plots treated with Neem seed kernel extract (31.32%) and the plots treated with Neem oil (30.14%) was recorded after 1^st spray on sunflower crop. In the second spray the plots treated with radiant also showed heighest efficacy (57.30%), followed by the plots treated with Neem seed kernel extract (33.34%) and plots treated with neem oil (32.27%) was recorded on sunflower crop. However, in 3^rd spray the heighest efficacy was recorded in the plots treated with radiant (50.48%), followed by the plots treated with Neem extracts (40.39%) and plots treated with neem oil (36.40%) was recorded. While, in fourth spray, the heighest efficacy was recorded the plots treated with Neem extracts (42.60%), followed by the plots treated with Neem oil (31.40%) and plots treated with Radaint (39.40%) was recorded on sunflower crop. The overall results showed that the biopesticids reduced H. armigera population progressively, as compared to synthetic pesticides.

Keywords: Sunflower, Helicoverpa armigera and Neem Products