Effect of Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM) Strategy on the Predatory Fauna of Cotton Ecosystem

Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM) strategy was devised and followed at farmers’ fields in 20 and 40 villages in Bathinda district of Punjab, India during 2004 and 2005, respectively. Various components of pest management were disseminated to the farmers for effective and sustainable pest management and timely pesticide application decisions. The pest management strategy was disseminated to the farmers through group meetings, field demonstrations and farmers’ training camps in IRM villages. Farmers were educated about the identification of different natural enemies and their role in natural pest suppression in addition to the insect-pests of cotton. Three villages were selected randomly as non-IRM villages. The impact of the IRM strategy in conserving the different natural enemies and reduction in the number of sprays was assessed. The implementation of the strategy resulted in significant increase in the population of different natural enemies in IRM villages over the non-IRM ones. The mean natural enemies’ population per plant was 0.96 and 0.40 in IRM villages compared to 0.87 and 0.25 in non-IRM villages in 2004 and 2005, respectively. On the other hand, the number of insecticide applications was reduced in IRM villages compared to non-IRM ones. There were 3.1 and 2.9 applications in IRM villages as against 9.0 and 3.2 in non-IRM villages in 2004 and 2005, respectively, in the cotton crop season.