Certainly, here is an article on Control of sucking pest attack on Cotton crop information:
Cotton is an essential cash crop grown globally, and it is a major source of income for many farmers. However, Cotton cultivation is often troubled by sucking pests such as aphids, jassids, thrips, whiteflies, and mealybugs. These pests can cause severe damage to the Cotton plant by sucking the sap from the leaves and stem, thereby hampering the overall growth and yield of the crop.
Sucking pests on Cotton crop can be controlled through various methods, including cultural, physical, chemical, and biological controls. Here are some effective ways to manage sucking pest attacks on your Cotton crop:
Use Cultural and Physical Controls
Cultural and physical controls are the best methods to manage pest attack in Cotton, and they are eco-friendly. Here are some of these methods:
Crop Rotation: Crop rotation is the practice of changing the crop in a particular field frequently. This practice helps to reduce pest populations by removing their host plants from the environment.
Tillage: Deep ploughing the soil helps to destroy the overwintering stages for various pests, thereby reducing their populations.
Sanitation: Farmers should clear the weeds present in and around the Cotton field, remove infected plants and destroy them to prevent further pest infestation.
Use Sticky Traps: Sticky traps are used to trap the adult pests in Cotton fields. Place the sticky traps close to the crop. The sticky surface on the trap will capture the pests as they fly by, reduce their numbers in your field, and prevent reproduction.
Use Chemical Controls
Chemical controls are an effective way to control sucking pests, but they should be used with caution due to their harmful effects. Farmers can use pesticides such as Malathion, Imidacloprid, and Nitenpyram, recommended for controlling sucking pests. Let us understand how to use some of these pesticides:
– Malathion: Spraying Malathion is the most effective way of controlling sucking pests. Dilute Malathion with water and spray it up to 2-3 times during the season. Avoid spraying Malathion during flowering.
– Imidacloprid: Farmers can use Imidacloprid as a seed treatment for controlling sucking pests in Cotton fields. It is effective for controlling jassids and aphids. Remember to follow the recommended dosage while using Imidacloprid.
– Nitenpyram: Nitenpyram is an effective insecticide that can be used for controlling sucking pests in Cotton fields. Farmers can use it as a foliar spray or soil drench. It is safe for beneficial insects and pollinators.
Use Biological Controls
Biological control methods of pests control in Cotton fields can be achieved by the following practices:
– Introducing natural enemies such as predatory insects, parasitoids, and entomopathogenic nematodes can be an effective way of controlling pest populations in Cotton fields.
– Farmers can also use microbial insecticides like bacillus thuringiensis and verticillium lecanii, which are harmless to the environment and non-target organisms like pollinators.
In conclusion, controlling sucking pests on Cotton crop is crucial to maintaining high yields. Farmers can use a combination of cultural, physical, chemical, and biological methods to control pest infestations. Use prevention measures as much as possible and seek advice from agricultural experts on the most suitable control measures for your specific crop and surrounding environment.