Efficacy of various pesticides for the control of insect pest complex of cotton and their cost benefit ratio

A field trial was conducted during 1996 and 1997 to control the insect pest complex through the spray of five different insecticides i.e. Chemothoate, Nuvacron, Baythroid T.M., Monitor and Talstar. Maximum seedcotton yield was obtained when the crop was sprayed thrice. The yield was decreased with the increase in number of insecticides spays. Among sprayed treatments, five sprays produced lowest yield and increased but whitefly population. According to economic analysis, two and three sprays not only increased the seedcotton yield but also decreased cost and there by resulted increase of profits. The highest net return of Rs. 4505/= per hectare (three over control was recorded in case of two applications compared to Rs. 4242/= per hectare (three applications) over control. The studies concluded that two to three sprays are sufficient to meet the requirement of essential plant protection measures for getting better seedcotton yield at the minimum cost.