Evaluation of pesticides against major pests of jute ( Corchorus olitorius L.) in West Bengal, India.

Among the pesticides evaluated against the jute pests under field conditions, endosulfan 35 EC at 350 g a.i./ha was found to be the most effective insecticide for controlling semilooper, Bihar hairy caterpillar and myllocerus weevil. Endosulfan and fenpropathrin provided good control of yellow mite as well. Even, endosulfan-treated plots gave maximum fibre and stick yield with greater benefit–cost ratio (BCR) over others. Next to endosulfan and chlorpyriphos, neemazal (azadirachtin 50,000 ppm) are useful and safer options against semilooper, Bihar having caterpillar, myllocerus and yellow mite. Methoxyfenocide 10 EC at 200g a.i./ha provided good control (70.60%) of S. obliqua even after 14 days of spraying, but it was not effective against other pests of jute. Further, almost similar efficacy of neemazal and chlorpyriphos was found against the pest complex of jute and based on BCR, neemazal could be an alternative choice over chlorpyriphos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]