INVESTIGATING THE PERFORMANCE OF LEPIK MACHINE FOR MANAGING POPULATION DENSITY OF SPOTTED BOLLWORM (EARIAS SPP.) IN COTTON CROP

Current study was conductedin two consecutive years i.e. 2013 and 2014 on cotton crop for evaluating the performance of LEPIK (Light Equipped Power Insect Killer) technology at three application intervals (3, 6 and 9 days) against spotted bollworm as compared to spinosad(chemical control measure) and control treatment. LEPIK technology applied at 3, 6 and 9 days interval exhibited population densities of spotted bollworm in the range of 1.89- 1.95, 4.94-5.32, 6.89-7.91larvae/plant in both years. The chemically treated plots showed a population density of less than 1.0 larvae/plantboth years. The highest and statistically similar population reduction for Eariasspp.was recorded in those plots which were treated with spinosad (95.9 and 97.5% in 2013 and 2014, respectively) and LEPIK technology applied at 3 days interval (84.3and 86.0% in 2013 and 2014, respectively). The plots where LEPIK technology was applied at 6 and 9 daysinterval exhibited 55.6-58.8% and 29.1-31.1% reduction in spotted bollworm population in both years. LEPIK technology applied at 3, 6 and 9 days interval demonstrated 4.7-4.9, 14.1-15.1 and 19.9-20.9 times less reduction in the spotted bollworm population than spinosad in both years. The highest and statistically similar population reduction for Eariasspp. ( 80% but 100%) was recorded in those plots which were treated with spinosad and LEPIK technology applied at 3 days interval.In conclusion, the application of LEPIK technology at three days interval proved at par with chemical control but better than non-chemical control measure and hence can be recommended for spotted bollworm management after evaluating its cost of application and cost benefit ratio.