Evaluation of thiamethoxam 12.6% + Lambda cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC against pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders) in Bt cotton through drone application

Abstract

The present study entitled, “Evaluation of Thiamethoxam 12.6% + Lambda cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC against Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora Gossypiella Saunders) in Bt Cotton through Drone Application” was carried out at, All India Coordinated Cotton Improvement Project, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Dist. Ahmednagar, Maharashtra during kharif-2022-23. Observations were recorded on rosette flowers%, green boll damage%, larval population per 20 bolls, open boll damage%, locule damage% and yield (q/ha). Treatments with the drone and knapsack having dose of @ 88 g a.i./ ha, and @ 66 g a.i./ ha were only for evaluation of phytotoxicity on cotton crop. The results revealed that among the tested insecticidal treatments Thiamethoxam 12.6% + Lamda-cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC @ 44 g a.i./ha through drone recorded minimum number of rosette flowers (5.80%), green boll damage (8.95%), larval population (3.54 per 20 bolls), open boll damage (9.05%), locule damage (4.63%) at harvest and it was at par with the treatment @ 44 g a.i./ ha through knapsack which recorded rosette flowers (6.56%), green boll damage (9.89%), larval population (4.60 per 20 bolls), open boll damage (10.13%), locule damage (5.19%) at harvest. No phytotoxicity symptoms were observed in any of the treatments which indicated that selected treatments were safe and well tolerated by cotton crop at flowering and fruiting condition. Among tested insecticidal treatments, the treatment Thiamethoxam 12.6% + Lambda-cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC @ 44 g a.i./ ha through drone application recorded higher yield of seed cotton (17.48 q/ha) and had non-significant difference with treatment @44 g a.i./ ha through knapsack. The drones or UAV’s will be better option than conventional method in rainfed or drought prone zone as it requires very less water and aslo it saves the labour. This research is of only one year, it needs more confirmation.