S.K. PATEL, B.H. PATEL AND D.M. KORAT

Use of chemical fertilizers alone exhibited maximum population of sucking pests i.e. Aphis craccivora Koch, Empoasca kerri Pruthi, Bemisia tabaci Genn., Megaleurothrips sp. and leaf miner, Acrocercops caerulea and spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata Fab. in cowpea crop, whereas the plots supplemented with organic manures and its combination with CF registered significantly low incidence of these pests over the untreated check. The application of FYM (10 t ha-1) + 50% RDF was found best in reducing the pest population and increasing the yield of green pods. Organic manures also influenced various growth attributing characters such as pod length, plant height, 50% flowering (days) and number of pods per plant. Maximum Incremental Cost Benefit Ratio (1:5.27) was registered with (5 t ha-1) + 50% RDF followed by FYM applied @ 5 t ha-1 (1: 4.07).