Influence of high density planting system (HDPS) on cotton sucking pests and natural enemies in rainfed alfisols

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in rain-fed alfisols during Kharif, 2014 and 2015 seasons to assess the incidence of sucking pests and natural enemies in cotton under High Density Planting System at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Warangal, Telangana, India. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with four spacings viz., 45 x 10, 60 x 10, 75 x 10 and 90 x 10 cm and two cotton entries i.e., Suraj and WGCV-48 in three replications. The study indicated that both the test entries have recorded the highest seed cotton yield at closer spacing of 45x10 cm compared to other wider spacings (2173 and 3048 kg ha-1 respectively during 2014, 1833 and 2818 kg ha-1 respectively, during 2015). The incidence of sucking pests especially jassids and thrips were higher in closer spacing (45x10 cm) while aphids were lower and remaining pests and natural enemies did not show any specific trend with regard to spacings followed.