Evaluation of augmentative biological control strategy against major borer insect pests of sugarcane—a large-scale field appraisal

Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control

Table 5 Cost of cultivation and economics returns from various treatments in the management of C. auricilius

Year	Treatments	Yield (t ha⁻¹)	Cost of cultivation^b (USD ha⁻¹)	Gross returns (USD ha⁻¹)	Benefit:cost ratio
2015	Biocontrol practice^a	72.03	1807.16	3156.82	1.75
	Untreated control	63.44	1793.56	2780.35	1.55
2016	Biocontrol practice^a	72.86	1823.46	3167.36	1.74
	Untreated control	62.28	1801.36	2707.43	1.50
2017	Biocontrol practice^a	70.35	2004.07	3303.85	1.65
	Untreated control	62.65	1980.59	2942.24	1.49
2018	Biocontrol practice^a	72.46	1899.10	3219.52	1.70
	Untreated control	63.36	1877.60	2815.19	1.50
2019	Biocontrol practice^a	73.64	1902.14	3198.15	1.68
	Untreated control	62.81	1881.13	2727.81	1.45
Pooled mean	Biocontrol practice^a	72.27	1886.49	3208.33	1.70
Pooled mean	Untreated control	62.91	1866.14	2792.45	1.50

^a12 releases of T. chilonis at 50,000 per ha at 10 days interval during July to October, price of sugarcane: USD 43.83, 43.47, 46.96, 44.43, and 43.43 tonne⁻¹ during 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively
^bIncludes trichocard + labor cost