Efficacy of Insecticides Against Thrips (Thrips tabaci) in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus var. Chadani)

Both biotic and abiotic factors have a considerable impact on cucumber production; the frequency of pests and diseases operate as important restrictions, resulting in yield losses ranging from 35 to 60%. Among pests, cucumber leaves, flowers, buds, stems, and fruits are severely damaged by thrips. This study compares the effectiveness of various insecticides in controlling cucumber thrips. The Chadani variety was the subject of an experiment utilizing a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with seven treatments and three replications at the Gauradaha Agriculture Campus in Jhapa, from February 14 to May 30, 2023. Treatments were applied 3 times using a foliar spray method. Data regarding the thrips population before spraying insecticides and after the 2nd, 4th, and 6th days of spraying were recorded. Data were collected and analyzed using ANOVA in GenStat (15th edition), with mean separation by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Thiamethoxam exhibited the highest Population Reduction over Control (PROC) at 68.65% (first spray), 28.00% (second spray), and 34.44% (third spray), followed by Imidacloprid (61.54%, 27.95%, and 32.27%) and Dimethoate (53.66%, 18.11%, and 17.31%). The highest yield was recorded in Thiamethoxam (28.13 tons/ha), followed by Imidacloprid (26.62 tons/ha) and Dimethoate (19.09 tons/ha). These findings demonstrate that Thiamethoxam significantly reduces thrips populations and enhances productivity and economic returns, making it a superior choice for pest management in cucumber cultivation in Jhapa, Nepal.