Studies on Population Dynamics & Management of Heliothis in Chickpea

The higher acreage and low productivity in chickpea depends on number of constraints, among them insect-pest has been recognized as one of the constraints. Among various insect-pests of chickpea Helicoverpa armigera is one of the most important biotic constraint, the damage caused during flowering and pod formation stages results in substantial yield loss. Chickpea is most preferred host of H. armigera, and it suffers losses to the tune of 20-80 % The pest can be managed by spraying the insecticides at the economic threshold level. As such, some modern trends are aimed for finding effective but safer insecticides that can be used in conjugation with bio-agents (NPV, Bt.), botanical insecticides (NSKE, Azadirachtin) so as to regulate pest population within economic limit and In order to minimize the adverse consequences of the pesticides there is dire need to develop eco-friendly management practice for this pest, which could be done by studying the seasonal incidence of the pest on chickpea. In the present study both the aspects of managing Helicoverpa had been undertaken, so that in future we may develop an integrated approach towards management of this noxious polyphagous pest.