Summary
This three-year randomised field trial in central India demonstrated that an integrated pest management strategy combining cultural practices (refugia, intercropping), biological controls (natural enemy conservation), and selective chemical inputs significantly reduced cotton pest infestations by up to 81% relative to farmers' conventional practice, whilst increasing yield by 25.38% and net returns by over 56%. Pesticide application was cut by 46.55% without yield penalty, and beneficial insect populations increased substantially, indicating ecological benefits alongside economic gains.
Regional applicability
The study was conducted in India (Madhya Pradesh) and findings are directly applicable to Indian cotton-growing regions with similar agroclimatic conditions. The IPM strategy's effectiveness in the Indian context may be less directly transferable to United Kingdom cotton production, which is negligible; however, the integrated approach combining cultural practices, pheromone management, and selective insecticides offers methodological lessons relevant to UK arable pest management. The emphasis on farmer participation and field schools aligns with extension approaches used in UK agronomy.
Key measures
Pest infestation reduction (%), beneficial insect population counts, number of pesticide sprays, seed cotton yield (kg/ha), net returns (₹/ha), benefit-cost ratio
Outcomes reported
The study measured pest infestation rates, beneficial insect populations, pesticide application frequency, seed cotton yield, and net farm returns under IPM versus conventional farmers' practice and untreated control.
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