Sucking pest population dynamics of cotton crop in relation to agrometeorological parameters and spectral indices

Present study was designed to reveal the impact of different meteorological factors on sucking pest population dynamics and to work out multiple regression equations using different weather parameters and spectral indices. Leafhopper population was positively correlated with Tmax (Maximum temperature), Tmin (Minimum temperature), RHM (Morning RH) and RHE (Evening RH) and negatively associated with VPD (Vapour pressure deficit). However, whitefly population was negatively correlated with Tmax, Tmin and VPD and positively related with RHM and RHE. In case of leafhopper, regression equation consisting all the weather variables were more suitable to predict their population (R2 = 0.79). But for whitefly population, equation with only temperature variables explained more variability (R2 = 0.89). Multiple regression analysis with spectral indices showed variable performance for these pests.