The agriculture experts have sensitized the cotton growers and advised them to adopt an aggressive pest-monitoring strategy and ensure timely preventive measures to protect their crop from whitefly, jassid, thrips and pink bollworm attacks because negligence at this crucial stage could significantly affect cotton yield and quality.
According to spokesman of agriculture (extension) department, the farmers should conduct pest scouting in cotton fields at least twice a week and eliminate weeds in and around the fields to prevent breeding and spread of harmful insects. The growers should also control whitefly populations on alternative host crops and ensure timely irrigation as moisture-stressed plants are more vulnerable to pest infestations, he added.
He said that for effective whitefly management, the farmers should install 20 yellow sticky traps per acre and reapply adhesive glue after every 15 days. The chemical control should only be initiated when the economic threshold level reaches five whiteflies, nymphs or a combination of both per leaf, he added. He advised the farmers to seek guidance from local officials of the Punjab Agriculture Department before applying pesticides.
He cautioned the growers against repeated use of pesticides belonging to the same chemical group and said that such practices can lead to pest resistance and reduced effectiveness of control measures. He said that the farmers should calibrate spray machines before use and preferably employ hollow-cone nozzles or power sprayers to ensure efficient pesticide application.
Regarding jassid management, he recommended controlling the pest on alternative host plants particularly okra and brinjal cultivated near cotton fields. He said that pesticide application should be considered if the pest population exceeds one adult or nymph per leaf and it should be applied after consultation with local agriculture extension or pest warning staff. He also highlighted the increasing risk of thrips infestation during hot and dry weather conditions. He said that the farmers should maintain adequate irrigation and continue pest scouting twice a week. In cases where thrips populations reach the economic threshold level of eight to ten adults or nymphs per leaf, the growers should apply recommended pesticides in consultation with agricultural experts, he added.
He said that for timely detection and management of pink bollworm, the cotton farmers should inspect their crops regularly and conduct pest scouting at least twice weekly. He recommended installing one to two pheromone traps per acre for monitoring purposes while nine to twelve pheromone traps per acre should be used for comprehensive control. The farmers should replace pheromone capsules every 15 days or use long-duration pheromone formulations, he added. He advised the installation of 20 Trichogramma cards per acre as a biological control measure against pink bollworm and recommended replacing the cards every 15 days to maintain their effectiveness. The integrated pest management, regular field monitoring and timely intervention are imperative for safeguarding the cotton crop and ensuring high productivity during the ongoing growing season, he added.