Effect of Sowing Dates on Population Dynamics of Cotton Bollworm Complex in Cv. PKV-Rajat

The field experiment was conducted during Kharif season of 2000–2001 at Departmental farm of Agronomy, Dr. PDKV., Akola with five treatments and four replications, laid out in design Randomized Block Design (RBD). The observations on bollworm and bollworm complex were recorded from the green fruiting bodies viz. squares, flowers and green bolls. No significant differences were recorded on infestation due to Helicoverpa armigera L at different sowing dates. Whereas, significantly higher bollworm infestations (1.44%) caused by Earias vittella L was recorded when crop sown on 29^th July i.e. (D₅), was on-par with D_4. i.e. crop sown on 22^nd July. The significantly lower infestations (0.94%) was recorded in treatment D₃ i.e. crop sown on date 15^th July was on-par with treatment D₂ i.e. 27 July and significantly higher damage (0.90%) due to Pectinophora gossypiella L was recorded when crop sown on 29^th July. The combined effect of bollworms damage showed significantly higher (1.60%) damage in the treatment D₅ i.e. crop sownon 29^th July, was on par with treatment D₄, and the lowest damage(1.10%) was recorded in D₂ was on par with treatment D₃.