Formulation and field assessment of emulsifiable concentrates from botanical seed extracts for managing leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis in paddy

AbstractSeed samples of Pongamia pinnata, Pachyrhizus erosus, Annona squamosa and Ricinus communis were extracted using solvents of varying polarity. The extracts were formulated into ECs with different emulsifiers and solvents to enhance stability and were field tested against paddy leaf folder. Among the tested treatments, the chemical check Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG (T14) exhibited the highest efficacy, reducing the larval population by 80.79% over control, followed by P. pinnata 10 EC (methanolic extract, T1) (76.35%) and A. squamosa 10 EC (methanolic extract, T7) (72.91%). The least effective treatments were A. squamosa 10 EC (hexane extract, T9) (26.60%) and R. communis 10 EC (hexane extract, T12) (19.21%). The highest yield was recorded in T14 (37.52 q/ha), T1 (35.69 q/ha), and T7 (34.53 q/ha), significantly outperforming the untreated control (T15 = 6.87 q/ha).