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International Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Soil Science

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Research Article - International Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Soil Science ( 2025) Volume 14, Issue 1

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Assessing the Efficacy of Bio-Derived and Synthetic Insecticides on Controlling Helicoverpa armigera Infestation in Cotton under Varied Irrigation Regimes at Ghurki Farm House, District Kasur

Hamood U Rehman*
 
Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
 
*Corresponding Author:
 Hamood U Rehman, Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan, Email: hamood.uaf@gmail.com

Received: 03-Feb-2024, Manuscript No. IRJAS-25-126756; Editor assigned: 06-Feb-2024, Pre QC No. IRJAS-25-126756 (PQ); Reviewed: 20-Feb-2024, QC No. IRJAS-25-126756; Revised: 03-Mar-2025, Manuscript No. IRJAS-25-126756 (R); Published: 10-Mar-2025, DOI: 10.14303/2251-0044.2025.032

Abstract

Cotton is an important fiber and cash crop throughout the world. Various factors influence the yield of cotton, with insect pests being of prime importance. Cotton bollworm cause serve damage to at boll formation stage. Management of the insect pests is mainly done through insecticides. The present research work was executed Ghurki Agricultural Farm House, District Kasur. The experiment was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The experiment comprised of irrigation was done through drip irrigation and surface/flood irrigation arrangements. The spacing between plants was 30 cm, and between rows, it was 120 cm.Treatments and control were replicated in thrice. Synthetic insecticides; Emamectin-Benzoate,Profenophos+Cypermethrin, Lambda-cyhalothrin and Profenophos (Curacon) procured from Syngentacompany sale point located in Okara and were applied by Knapsack sprayer at recommended dose rates. Meaneffects were statistically significant regarding mean infested bolls per plant. In case of interaction effects,maximum mean infestation (2.73 infested bolls/plant) were recorded in control plot followed by Emamectin-Benzoate. (0.93 2.73 infested bolls/plant) while the lowest (0.53 infested bolls/plant) was recorded inProfenophos+Cypermethrin treated plots. Crop water productivity was higher (0.61 kg/m3) in experimentalplots under drip irrigation compared to those under surface irrigation (0.53 kg/m3).

Keywords

Bollworms, Irrigation system, Maximum, Infestation, Crop water productivity, Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD)

Introduction

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) holds significant value globally as a fiber crop, primarily utilized in the textile industry (Chen G et al., 2020). Pakistan, ranking fifth in global cotton production, heavily relies on cotton exports, contributing around 0.6% to the country's GDP and 2.4% to the agricultural value added (Zhang Z et al., 2023). Despite its economic importance, the cotton industry faces challenges, including a reported decline in cotton fiber quality attributed to chemically synthesized fibers and the impacts of climatic changes and pest outbreaks (Shahzadi I et al., 2023). Cotton crops are vulnerable to various sucking insect pests and bollworms, with the American bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner), emerging as a significant pest for numerous agricultural crops, particularly fiber crops (Rauf S et al., 2019). H. armigera, being polyphagous, poses a threat to a wide range of crops in diverse climatic conditions, including cotton, fodders, tobacco, and oilseed crops (Tokel D et al., 2022). Its characteristics, such as high fecundity, extensive movement, and resistance to synthetic entomocidal chemicals, contribute to its status as a serious pest (Riaz S et al., 2021). The larvae stage of H. armigera is particularly destructive, causing significant yield losses in cotton crops (Noor-ul-Ane M et al., 2018). Given that these larvae often hide in fruits, bolls, or pods, traditional chemical sprays may not effectively control the pest (Tossou E et al., 2019). Hence, regular monitoring for timely detection of insect populations and the application of appropriate insecticides are crucial for effective pest control (Zheng S et al., 2022). Bio-derived insecticides being natural and eco-friendly are getting importance these days to be applied for the control filed as stored commodities insect pests (Ramya S, 2008). The insecticides have the capability of insect control without harming the quality of the product (Malinga LN et al., 2022). Several studies described plant derived materials having insecticidal properties and hence having sufficient potential to be practiced against numerous kinds of insect pests (Bini KK et al., 2023). Neem extract is the most usually practiced natural entomologic material (Kumar R et al., 2022). Azadirachtin is the active compound extracted from different parts of the neem plant, like seeds and leaves (de Souza TD et al., 2020). Azadirachtin is one of the plant products for efficient management of the lepidopteron and many other insect pests. Oil of Jatropha curcas was found to be toxic against H. armigera. In a toxicity bioassay, castor oil and garlic oil resulted in mortality of against H. armigera. Among the synthetic insecticides, Pyrethroids like Lamda-cyhalothrin, has been used to control H. armigera and P. gossypiella. Organophosphorus insecticides have shown remarkable toxicity against a variety of chewing insects of crops (Valdez-Ramirez A et al., 2023). Amides group found effective against Earias insulana.

Use of all the insect pest management tactics in an integrated way has attained huge importance in past few years (Haile F et al., 2021). The philosophy of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme is intellectual use of all the possible insect control techniques in a compatible manner to minimize the cost of crop protection (Alemu Z et al., 2022). The purpose of this programme is to keep the insect pest number below economic threshold level (Naik VC et al., 2023). Though bio-derived chemicals are slow-release insecticides compared to synthetic pesticides yet have been found effective against many lepidopteran insect pests (Radwan EM et al., 2018). However, in Pakistan, there are very a smaller number of listed bio-derived insecticides for control of bollworms (Mangrio WM et al., 2023). Therefore, the proposed research trial will focus on assessing the relative effectiveness of some bio-derived insecticides together with the synthetic insecticides against H. armigera.

Materials and Methods

Location of study area

The research trials were executed at Ghurki Agricultural Farm House, District Kasur, 56000.

Experimental layout

Cotton variety BS-15 was sown during the Kharif season. The experiment followed a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Irrigation was implemented through both drip irrigation and surface/flood irrigation arrangements. Plant-to-Plant (P × P) and Row-to-Row (R × R) distances were set at 30 and 120 cm, respectively. The entire experimental area was divided into three blocks, each with an equal area. Treatments and controls were replicated thrice. Standard cultural practices were adopted to ensure optimum crop growth (Table 1).

Treatment Trade name Active ingredient
T1 Curacron Profenophos
T2 Karate Lamda-cyhalothrin
T3 Proclaim Emamectin-Benzoate
T4 Polytrin c Profenophos+Cypermethrin

Table 1. Treatments description.

Insect infestation data

Synthetic insecticides; Emamectin-Benzoate, Profenophos+Cypermethrin, Lamda-cyhalothrin and Profenophos (Curacon) procured from Syngenta company sale point located in Okara and were applied by Knapsack sprayer at recommended dose rates. A 2 m meter long wood stick was thrown in each plot and five cotton plants along the stick length were selected arbitrarily from each treatment plot and infestation data was computed after regular intervals of 24 h. till 96 h. of post-treatment by a formula as described by Hajatmand et al.

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Crop water productivity

Estimation of crop water productivity of the cotton was done according to formula given by Awan et al.

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Statistical analysis

The recorded data were analyzed through Statistic Software 8.1 and means of treatments were compared by LSD.

Results and Discussion

All the insecticides were applied on recommended dose rates and number of infested bolls per plant were counted every plot and infestation was compared with control plot (Table 2).

Treatments Mean infestation ± S.E.
Profenophos 0.95 ± 0.06
Lamda-cyhalothrin 0.68 ± 0.06
Emamectin-Benzoate 0.92 ± 0.06
Profenophos+Cypermethrin 0.55 ± 0.06
Control 2.48 ± 0.06

Table 2. Comparison of mean number of infested bolls per plant in the cotton variety under application of the insecticides.

Results (Table 2) showed maximum mean infestation (2.48 infested bolls/plant) were recorded in case of control plot followed by Profenophos (0.95 infested bolls/plant), Emamectin-Benzoate (0.92 infested bolls/plant) while the lowest (0.55 infested bolls/plant) were recorded in case of Profenophos+Cypermethrin mixture (Figure 1).

irjas-mean

Figure 1. Comparison of mean number of infested bolls per plant in cotton after different exposure period under application of different insecticides.

Estimation of Crop Water Productivity (CWP)

Irrigation was applied through surface and drip irrigation systems and water was calculated throughout the crop period (Table 3).

Experimental plot

Water applied (mm)

Yield (kg)

CWP (Kg/m3)

Control plot (under surface irrigation)

345

184

0.53

Experimental plot (under drip irrigation system)

290

180

0.61

Table 3. Comparison of crop water productivity of cotton under two irrigation regimes.

Results (Table 3) showed that CWP was greater (0.61 kg/m3) in case of experimental plots under drip irrigation system compared with the experimental plot under surface irrigation (0.53 0.61 kg/m3).

Conclusion

Cotton is cultivated extensively worldwide, driven by its substantial socio-economic benefits. As a primary source of fiber, it holds utmost importance in agriculture. However, the yield of cotton is compromised by various biotic and abiotic factors, with insect pest attacks standing out as a significant challenge. Plant protection plays a vital role in sustaining cotton production, shielding it from pest infestations. Numerous studies have investigated insecticidal applications to assess and manage infestations. Explored various insecticide formulations against H. armigera in cotton, identifying Lamda-cyhalothrin as the second most effective treatment a result consistent with our findings. Similarly, examined the toxic effects of synthetic insecticides on H. armigera, highlighting the efficacy of Emamectin benzoate against larval populations a result also mirrored in our research. In the study by Mahalakshmi, synthetic pyrethroids such as bifenthrin 10 EC @800 ml/ha and cypermethrin 25 EC @500 ml/ha outperformed traditionally used insecticides like Profenophos 40 EC. Our research supported this trend, with Lamda-cyhalothrin, Emamectin-Benzoate, and Profenophos+Cypermethrin demonstrating superiority over Profenophos 40 EC. However, our results deviated from those of Chaudhari et al., who evaluated the toxicity of entomocidal chemicals against H. armigera on chickpea, noting Emamectin benzoate's superiority over Lamda-cyhalothrin 5 in chickpeas but not in cotton crops.

References