Evaluation of botanicals and biopesticides in the management of bollworm complex in cotton

Evaluation of botanicals and biopesticides on the management of cotton bollworm was carried out during 2004–05 and 2005–06 at the Department of Entomology, Dr. P D K V, Akola in a randomized block design. In all twenty treatments consisting of NSE 5%, neem oil 1%, azadirachtin 1500 ppm, CASE 5% were evaluated initially against sucking pests and continued further for evaluation against bollworm complex by scheduling the treatments viz., HaNPV 250 LE/ha, Bt 1000 g/ha and spinosad 45 SC @ 0. 01%. A application of NSE 5% and azadirachtin 1500 ppm followed by spinosad 45 SC as well as NSE 5% and azadirachtin 1500 ppm followed by HaNPV 250 LE/ha emerged as the most effective treatment schedules in minimizing the green fruiting bodies damage caused due to H. armigera. Similarly, the influence of NSE 5% and azadirachtin 1500 ppm followed by spinosad 45 SC and NSE 5% and azadirachtin 1500 ppm followed by Bt 1000 g/ha performed better against larval population of E. vitella damage in green fruiting damage. The treatment schedules comprising NSE 5% and azadirachtin 1500 ppm followed by spinosad 45 SC as well as Bt 1000 g/ha found effective in reducing the infestation of pink bollworm in green bolls and loculi damage. The treatments containing NSE 5% and azadirachtin 1500 ppm followed by spinosad 45 SC, NSE 5% as well as azadirachtin 1500 ppm followed by Bt 1000 g/ha were found effective in recording the lowest open boll and loculi damage as well as minimum bad seed cotton due to bollworm complex at harvest. The treatment, NSE 5% followed by spinosad 45 SC observed as the most effective treatment as it has obtained the highest seed cotton yield.