Compatibility of Profenofos with selected agro-chemicals on Bt cotton

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to assess the emulsion stability revealed that out of four chemicals tested namely, carbendazim, copper oxychloride, NAA, and MgSO4 with profenofos 50 EC at 2 ml litre-1, none of these products produced creaming matter or sediment, more than 2.0 ml at the top or bottom of the 100 ml cylinder. The results confirmed physical stability of these agro-chemicals with profenofos 50 EC. A field trial was conducted to evaluate the bioefficacy of combinations of profenofos 50 EC with selected Agro-chemicals, as foliar application on 90 days old Bt cotton against sucking pests and foliar diseases. The lowest mean population of aphids (5.87 3 leaves-1), leafhoppers (6.78 3 leaves-1), thrips (6.44 3 leaves-1), whiteflies (3.54 3 leaves-1) and mirid bugs (1.26 five squares-1) were recorded in profenofos 50 EC @ 2 ml + carbendazim 50WP @ 1.0 g with (47.70, 40.23, 64.95, 43.89 and 72.96) high % reduction over control, respectively. Treatments, profenofos in combination with carbendazim (36.30) and copper oxychloride (28.77) were recorded high % disease over control along with the alone fungicidal treatments against Alternaria blight and Bacterial blight, respectively. Profenofos in combination with carbendazim and copper oxychloride were found to be more effective in reducing the sucking pests population and foliar diseases incidence, but significantly reduced the natural enemies (coccinellids, chrysopids and spiders) in proving their harmfulness. All the tested treatments had not caused any phytotoxic symptoms on 90 days old Bt cotton crop.