Efficacy of Biopesticides Against Plant Hoppers in Direct Seeded Rice

This study evaluates the field efficacy of some biopesticides i.e., azadirachtin 1%EC @ 250, 500 & 750 ml, Bacillus thuringiensis @1500, 2000 & 2500 g, Beauveria bassiana 10%SC @2000, 2250 & 2500 ml and chlorpyriphos 20EC @2500 ml (check)/ha against the brown plant hopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) and white backed plant hopper, Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) in direct seeded rice. The experiment was carried out at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and Punjab Agricultural University Regional Research Station, Gurdaspur during 2017-18. It was observed that all tested biopesticides were found significantly effective. Beauveria bassiana @2500 ml/ha was the most effective, while the maximum cost-benefit ratio was obtained with chlorpyriphos 20EC @2500 ml (standard check) followed by azadirachtin 1% EC @250 and 500 ml/ha. Despite less cost benefits, biopesticides can be safer to environment.