Evaluation of Beauveria bassiana in Integrated Pest Management of Cotton Stem Weevil Pempherulus affinis Faust

Abstract

The IPM framework is extremely flexible in terms of goals and objectives and incorporates holistic thinking by continuously updating the technological inputs besides removing the shortfalls of current plant protection practices. The impact of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in reduction of cotton stem weevil in ecofriendly manner attains importance in recent days. IPM is not only environmental safe, but also cost effective. In a field trial, three treatments—IPM modules 1, 2, and farmers' practices—were used in this study to combat cotton stem weevils. Among the three treatments, IPM module 2 which consists of basal application of FYM 25 t/ha and 250 kg/ha of neem cake, seed treatment with Beauveria bassania @10g/kg of seed, border crop with Hibiscus cannabinus, soil drenching with Imidacloprid 17.80 SL @ 25 g a.i /ha (125 ml/ha) at 15 DAS and placement of young cotton stem bits (25 kg/500 box/ha) + Hibiscus cannabinus stem bits (25 kg/500 box/ha) + Chlorpyriphos dust 1.5 DP (2.5 kg/500box/ha) @ 30 DAS followed by earthing up @ 30 DAS recorded least stem weevil infestation of 13.21% which attained the yield of 1642.75 kg/ha. It was followed by IPM module 1 (21.78%) and farmers’ practice (33.56%) with yield of 1456.25 kg/ha and 1588.25 kg/ha respectively. IPM module 2 had the highest mean plant survival rate (94.28%), followed by farmers' practice (88.57%) and IPM module 1 (80.00%). Future research is necessary in the area of substitute host plants for cotton stem weevils that can be employed as traps or intercrops for efficient control techniques.