Comparative study of a biopesticide with some synthetic pesticides used against mustard aphids (Lipaphis erysimi Kalt)

The experiment was conducted to compare effectiveness of (BtA) Bacillus thuringiensis and Abamectin @ 1gm/l with chlorpyrifos @ 5ml/l, megamos @ 1.25 ml/I and trend @ 4ml/l in controlling aphids (Lipaphis erysimi) on mustard (Eruca sativa) at Agricultural Research Farm, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar during 2004-05. These compounds were first sprayed to the point of runoff when the density of the aphids reached to 10 per leaf and repeated at 15 days after the first spray. There were 5 treatments along with one control and replicated 4 times. On mustard after two sprays all the pesticides (being non-significant from one another) resulted in significant control of aphids over the check. Mean yield of mustard seed was significantly higher in chlorpyrifos treatment with 581 kg/ha, against 477 kg/ha in BtA treatment.