Dimethoate 30% EC Insecticide Uses

Dimethoate 30% EC is a systemic and contact organophosphate insecticide, registered for use in India under the Insecticides Act, 1968, formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate (EC). It is registered for a very wide range of sucking and chewing pests across cotton, mustard, potato, okra (bhindi), brinjal, castor, maize, sorghum, safflower, cauliflower, rose and bajra — covering aphids, jassids, thrips, mites, leaf miners, shoot flies, midges, stem borers and scale insects. This page lists its mode of action, key benefits and the complete crop-wise recommended dosage as per the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee’s (CIB&RC) official list of approved insecticide uses.

Mode of Action

Dimethoate is absorbed both through the leaf surface (systemically, moving within the plant) and by direct contact with the insect’s body. Once inside the pest, it is metabolised to its active form, omethoate, which inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase in the pest’s nervous system. This causes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to build up at nerve junctions, leading to continuous, uncontrolled nerve firing, paralysis and death of the pest. Because part of the dose moves systemically inside plant tissue, it also protects new growth and controls sap-sucking pests feeding on the underside of leaves that contact sprays may miss.

Features & Benefits

• Dual systemic-and-contact action controls both sucking pests (aphids, jassids, thrips, mites) and several chewing/boring pests (stem borer, shoot fly, midge) from a single spray.
• Broad crop coverage — registered on cotton, oilseeds, vegetables, cereals and ornamentals — makes it a versatile, multi-purpose option for mixed cropping situations.
• Systemic movement within the plant protects new flush and leaf undersides that contact insecticides may not reach.
• Economical, well-established organophosphate chemistry with fast knockdown action.

Recommended Usage of Dimethoate 30% EC Insecticide

The table below gives the recommended dose per acre, based on the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee's (CIB&RC) official list of approved insecticide uses (Government of India) — see the note below the table for the per-hectare-to-per-acre conversion. Always spray in the recommended water volume for uniform coverage, and confirm against the current product label before use.

All doses above are converted from the official rate published in the CIB&RC’s list of approved insecticide uses (Government of India), which states the rate per hectare; converted here to a practical per-acre spray-tank quantity (1 ha ≈ 2.47 acres) and rounded. Always confirm the current dose on your specific product’s label, and consult your local agricultural extension office if in doubt.

How to Use

1. Identify your crop and target pest from the table above, and confirm the correct dose and water volume.
2. Measure the required quantity of Dimethoate 30% EC and add it to the spray tank half-filled with water, then top up while stirring, since this is an emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulation.
3. Apply as a fine, uniform spray covering the entire crop canopy, including leaf undersides where sucking pests congregate.
4. Spray at the first appearance of pest activity or on crossing the economic threshold level, and repeat only if pest pressure continues, based on field scouting.
5. Rotate with insecticides from a different mode-of-action group across the season to manage the risk of resistance developing in the target pest population.

Precautions & Safety

• Wear appropriate PPE — mask/respirator, gloves, goggles and full-sleeved clothing — while mixing and spraying, and avoid inhaling spray mist.
• Follow the recommended dose strictly; do not mix with other pesticides unless specifically recommended, and never spray during flowering when bees are foraging, as many insecticides are toxic to bees.
• Respect the waiting period (PHI) given in the table above and on the current product label before harvesting the treated crop.
• Spray during calm weather (early morning or late evening), avoiding rain within a few hours of application and high wind that causes spray drift.
• Store in the original, tightly closed container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, food and feed, and out of reach of children and livestock.
• Wash hands, face and any exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water after handling or spraying, and change out of contaminated clothing before eating, drinking or smoking.

Brand names mentioned on this page are registered trademarks of their respective owners and are referenced here for identification purposes only; FarmMate is not affiliated with or endorsed by these brands. This page is for general information only — always consult your local agricultural extension office and confirm the current product label before use.