Farm experts in Haryana on Saturday urged farmers to monitor crops on a regular basis to prevent them from pest attack.
According to a survey, carried out by Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) Hisar recently of kharif crop for insect-pest incidence in Hisar, Bhiwani, Fatehabad and Sirsa districts, the adult whitefly population in cotton was found below economic threshold (ET) (6-8\adults/leaf) in all the cotton fields visited but incidence of leafhopper (tela) in cotton crop has declined due to control measures taken up by the farmers.
Population of leafhopper was above ET (2 nymphs and adults/leaf) in villages Bado Patti (2.0), Pabra (2.2), Harolli (2.7), Payal (2.2), Thilod (2.2) and Dhani Mirdad (3.6). No insect-pest problem was reported in paddy, guar and bajra crops, the survey report said.
“Weather conditions favourable for breeding”
Professor and Head, Department of Entomology, R. S. Jaglan said the present weather conditions were favourable for leafhopper multiplication, while whitefly population was likely to remain at low to moderate level.
In case of a long dry spell of 15 days or more, the population of whitefly may increase fast, he added.
Director of Research, HAU, S. S. Siwach urged farmers to monitor their crops for insect-pest incidence on weekly basis and apply control measures only at economic threshold.
He also emphasized that farmers should not mix insecticides and spray only recommended insecticides in right dose and method.
- PTI
