A trial entitled on the efficacy of different seed dressers on sorghum shootfly, Atherigona soccata (Rondani) was formulated and undertaken at Insectary field of Entomology Section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur during kharif 2013-2014 with the objectives, to the study the effect of different seed dressers on the sorghum seed germination percentage and on incidence of sorghum shootfly and natural enemies.
The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with six treatments and four replications. During the investigation, it was revealed that all the seed treatments showed higher germination percentage than control. Highest germination percentage (92 %) was observed in the seed treatment with thiamethoxam 35 FS @ 5 ml/ kg seed.
Maximum number of eggs were observed on the cartap hydrochloride 50 SP @ 2 g/ kg treated seed plot. Minimum numbers of dead hearts (9.56 %) were found on thiamethoxam 35 FS @ 5 ml/ kg seed as compared to control (51.28 %). Maximum population of natural enemies (coccinellids, chrysopa and spiders) was observed in control (3.90 no/ plant). The yield data indicate that the treatment with thiamethoxam 35 FS @ 5 ml/kg seed produced highest grain yield (3462 kg/ha). The maximum net monetary returns 1:56.25 (ICBR) were realized by the treatment thaimethoxam 35 FS @ 5 ml/kg seed.