Validation of eco friendly integrated pest management (IPM) packages in Bt cotton at farmer's participatory field

 Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM)  module  developed  for  transgenic  cotton  was  compared  with Recommended  Package  of  Practices  (RPP)  on  Bt  cotton  (RCH  134)  during  2008  and  2009  at  farmer's  field  in Sirsa,  district  of  Haryana.  The  incidence  of  leafhopper,  (Amrasca  biguttula  biguttula  Ishida),  Thrip  (Thrip  tabaci Lindeman)  as  well  as  mealybug  (Phenacoccus  solenopsis  Tinsley)  was  significantly  low  in  IPM  as  compared  to RPP,  except  of  whitefly  (Bemisia  tabaci,  Gennadius).  The  predator's  population  was  more  in  IPM  modules  than RPP.  The  populations  of  spider  (0.33  and  0.28/plant),  lady  bird  beetle  (Coccinella  septumpunctata,  Linnaeus 0.18  and  0.12  /plant)  and  lacewing  (Chrysoperla  carnea,  Stephens  0.29  and  0.23  /plant)  in  IPM  and  RPP, respectively  were  recorded  frequently  throughout  the  season.  The  damaged  fruiting  bodies,  rosette  flower, loculi  damage,  green  boll  damage  were  higher  in  RPP  than  IPM.  On  contrary,  the  number  of  good  opened  boll was  more  in  IPM  and  bad  opened  bolls  were  more  in  RPP.  Seed  cotton  yield  was  more  in  IPM  (11.90  q/ha)  as compared  to  RPP  (11.47  q/ha)  with  Cost:  Benefit  ratio  of  1:4.29  and  1:3.75  in  IPM  and  RPP,  respectively.  The better  performance  of  Bt  cotton  was  recorded  in  both  IPM  modules  and  RPP  but  reduced  insecticides  usage  to the  38  per  cent  in  IPM  (4.0  sprays  in  IPM  and  6.5  in  RPP).