Biointensive management of leafhoppers and aphids in Bt cotton

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of various botanicals, biopesticides and plant extracts in controlling key sucking pests such as leafhoppers Amrasca biguttula biguttula I. and aphids Aphis gossypii G. on Bt cotton. The study employed in a randomized block design with five treatments replicated four times. Treatments included Azadirachtin 0.03% EC @ 5 ml/lit fb Azadirachtin 0.15% EC @ 5 ml/lit fb Azadirachtin 0.30% EC @ 4 ml/lit fb Azadirachtin 01.00% EC @ 2 ml/lit (M1), Verticillium lecanii 1.15% WP @ 5 g/lit fb Metarhizium anisopliae 1.15% WP @ 5 g/lit fb Beauveria bassiana 1.15% WP @ 5 g/lit fb Verticillium lecanii 1.15% WP @ 5 g/lit (M2), PDKV Dashparni Extract @ 12.5 ml/lit fb Neem seed extract 5% fb PDKV Brahmastra Extract @ 30 ml/lit fb PDKV Agniastra Extract @ 30 ml/lit (M3), Neem Seed Extract 5% fb Azadirachtin 0.15% EC @ 5 ml/lit fb Verticillium lecanii 1.15% WP @ 5 g/lit fb Azadirachtin 01.00% EC @ 2 ml/lit (M4) and untreated control (M5). The cumulative effect of different treatments inferred that Module 1 proved most effective in reducing the population of leafhoppers (0.98/leaf) and aphids (5.14/leaf) and it was found statistically at par with Module 4 (1.10; 5.62), Module 2 (1.29; 5.71)and Module 3 (1.31; 6.03) leafhoppers and aphids, respectively. The maximum pest population was recorded in (M5) untreated control (2.44; 11.96). All these treatment modules showed non-significant differences on population of natural enemies. The highest seed cotton yield of (13.39 q/ha) was observed in Module 1. These findings support the adoption of such eco-friendly, integrated pest management modules in cotton cultivation.