Cotton Cultivation & Pink Bollworm Integrated Management Guide

Integrated Package of Practices for Cotton & Pink Bollworm Defense

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is India’s premier fiber crop. Despite widespread adoption of Bt cotton hybrids, the resurgence of Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, and Punjab requires proactive integrated pest management (IPM) from day 45 of crop growth.

1. Soil Selection & Optimal Plant Population

Cotton thrives in deep black cotton soils (Vertisols) with good drainage and pH 6.5–8.0. Stagnant water for more than 48 hours causes root hypoxia and square shedding.

• Recommended Spacing for Rainfed Conditions: 90 cm (row-to-row) × 60 cm (plant-to-plant) (~7,400 plants/acre). * Recommended Spacing for Irrigated Heavy Soils: 120 cm × 45 cm or 150 cm × 30 cm under high-density planting (HDPS). * Interactive Population Calculator: Use the KhetiSetu Plant Spacing Calculator to determine precise seedling counts and nursery buffer.

2. Pink Bollworm (PBW) Life Cycle & Damage Symptoms

Pink bollworm larvae enter squares and young bolls within hours of hatching. Once inside, systemic insecticides cannot reach them.

• Rosette Flowers: Larvae web the petals together into an unopened rosette shape. Pick and destroy all rosette flowers daily. * Premature Boll Opening: Infested bolls open prematurely with stained, unmarketable fiber and damaged seeds.

3. Step-by-Step IPM Protocol for Pink Bollworm

Phase 1: Window 45–60 Days After Sowing (Pheromone Monitoring) * Install 8 Pheromone Traps (Pectino-Lure) per acre at crop canopy height. * Check lures every Monday and Friday. Economic Threshold Level (ETL): 8 moths per trap per day for 3 consecutive days, or 10% damaged green bolls. * Replace lures every 21 days.

Phase 2: Biological & Botanical Sprays (60–90 DAS) * Release egg parasitoid Trichogramma bactrae @ 60,000 parasitized eggs/acre at weekly intervals when moth catches begin. * Spray 5% Neem Seed Kernel Extract (NSKE) or Azadirachtin 1500 ppm @ 5 ml/liter to deter adult oviposition.

Phase 3: Targeted Chemical Intervention (Above ETL Only) * Rotate insecticides with different Modes of Action (IRAC codes) to prevent resistance:

1. Window 1 (60–80 DAS): Profenofos 50% EC @ 2 ml/liter or Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG @ 0.5 g/liter.
2. Window 2 (80–110 DAS): Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 0.3 ml/liter or Spinetoram 11.7% SC @ 0.8 ml/liter.
3. Window 3 (Late Season): Synthetic pyrethroid (e.g., Fenpropathrin 30% EC @ 1 ml/liter) only after 120 days. Never use pyrethroids early as they trigger whitefly flare-ups.

4. Tractor Boom Sprayer Calibration

Handheld knapsack sprayers struggle to penetrate dense cotton canopy. Tractor-mounted boom sprayers operating at 3.5 bar with hollow cone nozzles deliver 150–200 liters of spray solution per acre with uniform under-leaf coverage.

• Need a mechanized boom sprayer? Find Tractor Sprayer Rentals on KhetiSetu with verified local operators.

5. Official References & Extension Citations * ICAR - Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur. * Directorate of Cotton Development, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. * Punjab Agricultural University & Dr. PDKV Akola Cotton Advisory Bulletins.