Potential of Organic Pesticides for Western Flower Thrips Management in Seedling Cotton: Effect on Plant Parameters

Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande) is an important pest of seedling cotton. Seed treatment or soil application of aldicarb or foliar applications of various insecticides are common practice in managing this pest. However, limited options are available to manage thrips in organic cotton production system. The efficiency of four organic products namely Entrust (Spinosad), PyGanic (Pyrethrum), Surround (Kaoline clay), and Saf-T-Side (Petroleum oil) were evaluated and compared with the control treatment. Treatments were applied weekly for four weeks beginning from first week of cotton germination. Thrips were sampled weekly for four weeks by both visual and washing methods. In addition to thrips count, cotton seedling root-shoot biomass, leaf area, and leaf chlorophyll were recorded. Among the five treatments, Entrust was found most effective in controlling thrips followed by Saf-T-Side, Surround, PyGanic, and control. Cotton seedling biomass (root plus shoot) was highest in Surround treated plots followed by PyGanic, Entrust, Saf-T-Side, and control plots. The effect on cotton yield and lint quality will also be reported.