950809

Cotton boll worm

seen in H'abad

Khairpur area

HAFEEZ SHAIKH

HYDERABAD: The field crop monitoring team of the Sindh agriculture department visited cotton crop areas in Hyderabad and Khairpur districts on Wednesday and advised that a regular watch was needed for removal of flowers infested with 'pink boll worm' larvas and their burial in the soil to avoid further infestations.

According to the field report, in Hyderabad district the cotton crop was in flowering and picking stage and the crop growth was satisfactory. The presence of sucking and chewing complex was reported but 'jassids' and 'spotted boll worms' had reached the economic threshold level and needed pesticidal cover. No new insect or plant disease was so far detected.

The release of irrigation water was needed otherwise shedding of fruiting bodies will increase. The rain water damages are reported to be below 5 percent on plant basis. Growers have been advised to apply irrigation and pesticides spray against the pest complex.

In Khairpur district, the cotton crop is in square formation to initial 'boll' formation stage and is reported to be healthy. The rain and flood damages to cotton crop in 'pucca' and 'katcha' areas is reported to the tune of 10 percent.

A plant disease has been observed in 60 acres of CIM-240 cotton variety in Gambat taluka which is to be confirmed. Thrips, Jassids, Whiteflies are reported to approach the economic threshold level and need pesticidal spray cover. The availability of inputs is reported to be satisfactory.