How to control cotton pests

A technology with a bright potential of managing cotton pests in the country has been found viable.

The technology is dubbed “High Frequency Destroy Pest Lamp,” a light trap made up of a high resonance bulb that attracts various winged insects and surrounded by high voltage wire that causes electrocution.

The HFDPL’s effectiveness in controlling bellworms and in increasing cotton yield was evaluated by researchers of the Batac, Ilocos Norte-based Cotton Research Center (CRC) of the Department of Agriculture-Cotton Development Administration (DA-CODA).

Cotton bellworm is one of the most serious cotton pests in the country. It can reduce yield of cotton by 37 to 92 percent. Cotton farmers spend 35 to 47 percent of the production cost to control it.

In the study highlighted in a PCARRD report, it was found that HFDPL could trap 10 insect orders, causing significant reduction in bellworm population.

With the use of the light trap, DA-CODA reported, cotton yielded an average 11. 38 balls per plant compared to only 9.8 balls without its use.

Actual cotton seed yield was 1.665 tons per hectare for cotton using the trap compared to only 1.387 t/ha for the cotton without the trap, giving an average yield increase of 278 kilos or about 20 percent.

The use of the light trap also reduced chemical spraying from thrice to only once, recorded DA-CODA, as reported by PCARRD’s Bengie Gibe.

A net profit of P7,000 owing to yield increase and the savings from the use of chemical insecticides and labor compensate for the initial investment of P6,000 for the cost of the lamp.

The durable resonance bulb, which can be easily imported from China, has an estimated life span of four to six years and effective within two hectares or within the 100-meter radial distance. However, it cannot be used in areas without electricity. — Rudy A. Fernandez