Efficacy of insecticides against African bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera Hubner) on chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in the lowlands of Wollo, Northeastern Ethiopia

Helicoverpa armigera is a major pest of chickpea in Ethiopia. Field experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of insecticides viz., Fastac, Spinosad, Indoxacarb, Diazinon, Runner, and Lambda cyhalothrin were tested at Sirinka on trial site and Chefa on farmers' field in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications during 2017 and 2018. Percentage pod damage, mean larval count per plant, hundred seed weight, and grain yield were significantly affected by the treatments; all tested insecticides significantly reduced the percentage pod damage and mean larvae per plant accordingly increased grain yield ha(-1) among insecticides Indoxacarb (48.11) and Spinosad (43.37%) gave higher relative yield increment with maximum MRR 8112.24% and 7698.28% respectively. Thus, the application of Indoxacarb (Avaunt 150 SC) 0.3 Lha(-1) or Spinosad (Tracer 480 SC) 0.15 Lha(-1) three times with a week interval can be advised for the management of H.armigera; however, it needs further investigation for the interval and frequency.