Estimation of avoidable losses in chickpea by pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) in Southern Rajasthan

An experiment was conducted during two rabi crop seasons from 2015‐2016 to 2016‐2017 at Agricultural Research Station, MPUAT, Banswara. The objective was to estimate avoidable losses in seed yield of chickpea on four chickpea varieties viz., Pratap Channa-1, Dahod Yellow, GNG-1581 and JAKI-9218. Results showed that in both the seasons, significant difference was observed in the pod borer damage of H. armigera between unprotected and protected conditions. The maximum pod borer damage percentage was recorded in JAKI 9218 variety, while minimum damage was in Pratap channa-1 under unprotected conditions. In 2016-17, under protected condition all the chickpea varieties were free from pod damage due to H. armigera. The maximum yield loss (25.07%) in JAKI-9218 corresponded with the high pod borer damage percentage of 27.77 under unprotected conditions, in 2015-2016. Similarly, the low yield loss (5.37%) in chickpea variety, Dahod yellow corresponded with the low pod borer damage percentage (6.66).