Effect of Agrochemicals on Sucking Insect Pests of Cotton Crop (original) (raw)

Studies on the effect of agrochemicals against sucking insect pests of cotton were conducted in the experimental area of faculty of crop protection Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam during the Kharif season of 2010. Cotton leaves and fruiting bodies were artificially terminated at 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60% and plant remained as such were treated with each of three growth regulators (Pix, Plano fix and Salicylic Acid), Micronutrients (Bigsaver, Dawn and Agrofeed) and insecticides (Confidor, Mospilan and Tracer) at their recommended doses. The experiment was laid out in a three replicated RCBD (Factorial arrangements). The result showed that the population of sucking insect pests as well as growth and seed cotton yield differed significantly between the treatments of plant parts termination, plant growth regulators, micronutrients and insecticides respectively. However, their interactions were statistically non-significant. Leaves and fruiting bodies removed resulted in lower infestation of sucking insect pests as compared to those remained as such. However, application of Pix resulted (PGR) reduced pest infestation as compared to Planofix and Salicylic acid and gave more number of bolls, and seed cotton yield. Similarly, foliar spray of micronutrients also reduced the infestation of pest and gave more bolls, boll diameter and seed cotton yield, Bigsaver was relatively more effective than Dawn and Agrofeed. However, application of insecticides decreased the damage of sucking pest resulted in greater boll number, boll diameter and seed cotton yield. Among the insecticides tested Confidor proved more effective in reducing pest as compared to Mospilan and Tracer. The mean population of Thrip was 0.15-3.93, Jassid 0.10-0.98, White fly 0.65-3.60 and of Aphid was 0.15-1.07. Thus it was found that termination of leaves and fruiting parts up to 60% compensate of the applied PGR and micronutrients beside application of insecticide.