Extensive surveys for sucking insect pests like whitefly, jassid and thrips are being carried out by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and the State Department of Agriculture in the cotton belt of Punjab.
Divulging this information, Dr P.K. Chhuneja, Head, Department of Entomology, said, “The survey has revealed very low incidence of whitefly in Mansa, Bathinda, Faridkot, Muktsar districts except Khuian Sarwar block of Fazilka district where incidence of whitefly above economic threshold level has been observed in 19 fields out of 335 in 12 villages.”
In some fields, incidence of jassid and thrips was also recorded, he disclosed. Although the prevailing hot and humid weather is favourable for multiplication of these pests, yet the incidence of these insects was observed only in few fields, he added.
Dr Vijay Kumar, an entomology expert, has called upon the farmers not to panic as effective control measures are available. He advised them to monitor their crop regularly for whitefly, jassid and thrips incidence.
“Avoid irrigation stress to the cotton field to minimize incidence of thrips and whitefly. For the management of jassid, the fields showing yellowing and curling of the leaves along the margins in the upper canopy of the 50 per cent of the plants (ETL) should be sprayed with 60 g of Osheen 20 SG (Dinotefuran) or 80 g of Ulala 50 WG (Flonicamid) per acre,” he said.
Dr Kumar further explained “Both nymph and adult of the thrips feed on the oozing self sap, resulting in silver streak appearance, especially, around the midrib and veins of the leaves. Under severe infestation, leaves give blasted appearance and extreme level of cupping is observed.” If thrips attack is noticed, irrigate the field immediately and spray the crop with Curacron 50 EC (profenophos) @ 500 ml/acre by mixing in 150 litres of water, he advised.
If the fields have incidence of both whitefly and thrips, spray the crop with 200 g of Polo 50 WP (diafenthiuron) or 800 ml of Fosmite 50 EC (ethion) per acre basis, he suggested. For the management of nymphs of whitefly, spray 500 ml of Lano 10 EC (pyriproxfen) or 200 ml of Oberon/Voltage 22.9 SC (spiromesifen), he said.
Source: http://www.pau.edu/
