Comparative Study of Different Management Practices for Cotton Cultivars against Dusky Cotton Bug (Oxycarenus Spp.)

Abstract

The present study was carried out to compare the damage assessment of dusky cotton bug (Oxycarenus laetus Kirby) among four cotton cultivars (VH 305, VH 363, VH 327, and FH 183) by using three different management practices including chemical and non-chemical control. The population dynamics of dusky cotton bug (DCB) in cotton cultivars were determined during July to October 2017-18 under field conditions in the area of Cotton Research Station, Vehari. Three different management practices (treatments) were taken such as chemical control (using two different chemicals imidacloprid and chlorpyriphos) sprayed, unsprayed (growth and damage pattern under natural field conditions), and non-chemical using a net cloth to ensure the avoidance of insects. Both qualitative and quantitative parameters are taken under this study. Quantitative parameters are affected on large scale by the DCB viz., seed cotton weight (42.92%), seed weight (40.84%), and oil content (35.16%) were taken under unsprayed conditions. It can feed on the seed so due to this reason also called a seed bug. Results have been revealed that the germination percentage was on the peak under sprayed condition followed by net cloth treatment and lowest germination showed by unsprayed treatment.     The study is helpful for all cotton growers especially in area with the supportive environmental condition as higher relative humidity. The cotton minor pests including dusky cotton bugs change their status by increasing the population during the supportive abiotic factors, especially temperature and humidity. As our weather conditions are usually supportive to insects’ maintenance of a higher population in the field helps the pest to keep their population above damaging boundaries.