Title: Population dynamics of arthropods under different insecticide and biopesticide treatments in okra
Abstract: Efficacy of different insecticides and biopesticides wasevaluated against arthropods on okra crop at VegetableResearch Farm, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhianaduring 2019-20. For sucking arthropods, all evaluatedinsecticides were significantly effective and amongst themflonicamid 50% WP (0.8g/l water) proved to be more effectivehaving higher percent reduction (67.31 to 96.14%) comparedto controls. However, imidacloprid 200 SL (0.4ml/l water)was effective against okra fruit and shoot borer andAmerican bollworm (79.18% and 78.60%, percent reductionover control) and spiromesifen 240 SC (1.5ml/l water) againstred spider mite. Interestingly, neem based biopesticidesenhance predator population as compared to insecticides.Although, the use of chemical pesticides cannot be omittedcompletely as they form mainstay of management strategies,yet their use can be limited by including cheaper alternativebiopesticides like azadiractin 50,000 ppm @ 0.8 ml/l of waterwhich may provide good control of above suckingarthropods as compared to controls.