Estimation of avoidable crop losses due to bollworm complex in bt cotton

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at research farm of Cotton Research Unit, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, during kharif 2017-18. Cotton the “white gold” is one of the most important fibre crop of India. It plays prominent role in the National and International economy. It is grown mainly for its fibre, used in the manufacture of cloth for mankind. Cotton yields primarily depend on weather, pests, diseases and management practices. Major constraint in attaining high production of seed cotton is the damage inflicted by insect pests. Insect pest problems in agriculture have shown a considerable shift during first decade of twenty-first century due to ecosystem and technological changes. Production depends mainly on the timely arrival of monsoon, distribution of rainfall and management interventions. However, pink bollworm in central Maharashtra may cause yield losses albeit to a minor extent. The intensity of pink bollworm was more in the irrigated tracts of central Maharashtra.