Evaluation of insecticidal spray schedules against Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) in groundnut

A field experiment on the different spray schedules against groundnut defoliators was conducted at Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh during kharif, 2018. Among the different spray schedules tested for their efficacy against Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) three sprays in schedule 4 [B. bassiana 1.15 WP @ 0.003% + chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 0.003% in 1st spray, B. bassiana 1.15 WP @ 0.003% + novaluron 10 EC @ 0.005% in 2nd spray and B. bassiana 1.15 WP @ 0.003% + quinalphos 25 EC @ 0.025% in 3rd spray] or schedule 3 [B. bassiana 1.15 WP @ 0.003% + novaluron 10 EC @ 0.005% in 1st spray, B. bassiana 1.15 WP @ 0.003% + quinalphos 25 EC @ 0.025% in 2nd spray and B. bassiana 1.15 WP @ 0.003% + chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 0.003% in 3rd spray] were found to be the most effective against H. armigera at 30, 45 and 60 DAS in groundnut. While, in case of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) schedule 2 [B. bassiana 1.15 WP @ 0.003% + quinalphos 25 EC @ 0.025% in 1st spray, B. bassiana 1.15 WP @ 0.003% + chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 0.003% in 2nd spray and B. bassiana 1.15 WP @ 0.003% + novaluron 10 EC @ 0.005% in 3rd spray] or schedule 3 [B. bassiana 1.15 WP @ 0.003% + novaluron 10 EC @ 0.005% in 1st spray, B. bassiana 1.15 WP @ 0.003% + quinalphos 25 EC @ 0.025% in 2nd spray and B. bassiana 1.15 WP @ 0.003% + chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 0.003% in 3rd spray] were found to be the most effective and can be recommended for the management of S. litura in groundnut at 30, 45 and 60 DAS, respectively. Highest yield of groundnut pod was obtained in the schedule 4 (2083 kg/ha), which was followed by schedule 3 (1979 kg/ha) and schedule 2 (1823 kg/ha).