During 2019-20 and 2020-21, a two-year field study was conducted on fifty cotton farmer fields in the Jalgaon District (MH) to validate pink bollworm management strategies in Bt cotton. Each farmer was assigned one acre as a demo plot where all of the prescribed pink bollworm management strategies were demonstrated, and five other farmers from each village were assigned as a check plot. The recommended pest management strategies were implemented once the pink bollworm reached economic threshold levels, i.e. eight to ten adult moth catches in pheromone traps for three consecutive days and 10% green boll observed during destructive sampling. A two-year study found that the average Pink bollworm infestation ranged from 4.50-20.70 percent in demonstration plots and 14.80-40.50 percent in farmer's practises (Check) plots. In the demonstration and control plots, the average number of insecticidal sprays for pink bollworm was 2.29 and 3.55, respectively. In the demonstration and control plots, the average seed cotton yields were 1719.70 and 1463.10 kg/ha, respectively. The cost-benefit ratios for the demonstration and check plots were 1:1.84 and 1:1.41, respectively. Pesticide use has been reduced by 32.13 percent. Critical inputs like insecticides, trichocards were supplied to the beneficiary farmers. Voice message were send to the farmers regarding management of pink bollworm in cotton. Standard meteorological week wise observation also records though large number of field visits.

Boll damage, Cotton, Evaluation, IPM, field Pink bollworm, Management

According to the study mentioned above, the bio-intensive module-based pink bollworm management strategies mentioned above can be used to manage the pink bollworm in Bt cotton effectively. Chemical insecticides are ineffective against the pink bollworm on their own because they increase cultivation costs, harm ecosystems, leave behind more pesticide residues, and have lower net returns.

Band S.S., Hemant Baheti and Sangesh Surve (2022). Validation of Pink Bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) Management Strategies in Bt Transgenic Cotton. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(4a): 69-73.