Evaluation of frontline demonstrations on management of whitefly in cotton

Evaluation of frontline demonstrations on cotton crop at farmers’ fields in Rohtak district was carried out during kharif 2021 and 2022 by ICAR - Krishi Vegyan Kendra, CCS HAU, Rohtak, Haryana. Among the several constraints experienced by the farmers, increased infestation by sucking insect pests viz aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover), leaf hopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida) and whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) were the most important. The farmers used monocrotophos 36 SL and imidachloprid 17.8 SL for the control of whitefly, whereas, nimbicidine 300 ppm and flonicamid 50 WG were applied in demonstration fields for the control of whitefly. The results revealed that average yield in farmers’ fields was 10.0 and 12.0 q/ha, whereas, the yield in demonstration fields was 12.0 and 14.0 q/ha during 2021 and 2022 respectivley. The findings showed significant increase in the average yield of demonstration fields ie 2 q/ha during 2021 and 2022 over the control. Considerably, lower yield was observed under farmers’ practice because of application of non-recommended insecticides during both the years. Population of whitefly was recorded as 18-24 adults/3 leaves in farmers’ fields and 9-12 adults/3 leaves in demonstration fields during kharif 2021 and 21-27 adults/3 leaves at farmers’ fields and 9-15 adults/3 leaves in demonstration fields during kharif 2022 after applications of insecticides. It was observed that nimbicidine 300 ppm and flonicamid 50 WG were found effective in reducing whitefly population in cotton field. This treatment also resulted in higher cotton yield as compared to farmers’ practice. The farmers possessed highest knowledge regarding high yielding varieties of cotton crop (100%) followed by time of sowing (80%). They possessed less knowledge regarding the use of hormones (10%) followed by sowing of refugea (20%) aspects of cotton cultivation.