PERFORMANCE OF LEPIK MACHINE IN REGULATING WHITEFLY (BEMISIA TABACI) DENSITY IN COTTON

Current study was carried out to evaluate the performance of LEPIK (Light Equipped Power Insect Killer) technology against whitefly. The performance of LEPIK technology at three application intervals (3, 6 and 9 days) against whitefly was compared with pyriproxifen (chemical control measure) and control in two consecutive years i.e. 2010 and 2011 on cotton. LEPIK technology applied at 3, 6 and 9 days interval exhibited population densities in the range of 5.6-6.7, 3.3-4.9, 2.2-2.8 whiteflies/leaf in both years. The chemically treated plots showed a population density of 1.0 and 1.9 whiteflies/leaf in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The highest and statistically similar population reduction for Bemesia tabaci was recorded in those plots which were treated with pyriproxifen (89.4 and 84.6% in 2010 and 2011, respectively) and LEPIK technology applied at 3 days interval (86.9 and 83.8% in 2010 and 2011, respectively). The plots where LEPIK technology was applied at 6 and 9 days interval exhibited 69.9-75.5 and 53.8-56.7% reduction in whitefly population in both years. In control plots, 12 and 16% increase in whitefly population was observed. Application of pyriproxifen caused 82.7-89.2% more reduction in whitefly population than control; whereas, LEPIK technology applied at 3, 6 and 9 days interval exhibited 74.5-76.3, 55.5-64.5 and 39.1-39.8% more reduction in whitefly population than control; whereas, the same demonstrated 0.47-1.2, 1.6-2.3 and 2.5-4.6 times less reduction in whitefly population than pyriproxifen in both years. In conclusion, the application of LEPIK technology at three days interval proved at par with chemical control but better non chemical control measure and hence can be recommended for whitefly management after evaluating its cost of application and cost benefit ratio.