Field trials were conducted during kharif seasons, 2004 and 2005 with American cotton variety Pusa 86 to determine the bioefficacy of a newer insecticide, emamectin benzoate 5% EC against bollworms in cotton. Emamectin benzoate EC formulation was evaluated at various doses along with its water soluble granule (WSG) formulation and a another semi-synthetic novel insecticide, spinosad. The EC formulation of emamectin benzoate at the dose of 11 g ai/ha was effective in reducing the incidence of bollworm complex and increased the yield of seed cotton by 97.3% and 89.4% over untreated control during 2004 and 2005 respectively. The WSG formulation of emamectin benzoate was also effective at the same dose (11 g ai/ha) in protecting the crop and increased the yield of seed cotton by 89.8 and 98.1% during both the years. The results suggest that the EC formulation of emamectin benzoate could be recommended as a component of sustainable management of bollworms in cotton.
Bollworms, emamectin benzoate formulation, spinosad, cotton yield
