Indigenous Technical Knowledge in

Cotton production and protection in India

S. Title of ITK Details of ITK and rationale Reference
No
1 Prevention of Flowers and young bolls are often shed Karamiya
shedding of in cotton crop due to high temperature. (1992)
boll of cotton To minimize this problem, farmers pour
by use of castor oil (approximately 50 ml) near the
castor oil stem in the soil believing that it would
cool the soil (Bharuch, Gujarat)
2 Use of Farmers store rain water received Kapadia
magha rain during the magha in the monsoon for (1997b)
water as future use. They believe that it works as
growth growth promoter on the standing crop.
promoter According to them, the stored water
does not get spoiled (Rajkot, Gujarat)
3 Prunning for Cotton plants grow tall in the highly Patel
higher boll fertilized field with good rainfall. (1991 f)
formation in Farmers cut the top branch of the plant
cotton which checks the erect growth of the
plant. It is believed that such practice
imparts good flowering and retards
vegetative growth (Surendranagar,
Gujarat).
4 Minimizing Farmers practice fumigation and Dayabhai
the effect of irrigation in the fields of cotton when (1992)
frost in they anticipate frost. Fumigation is done
cotton by by cowdung cake, used engine oil or
fumigation waste grass. They have been practicing
and this for the last 20 years. Some farmers
irrigation make tall hedges around the field to
protect the crop from frost (Mehsana,
Gujarat)
5 Control of Leaves of Calotropis plant are immersed Thakor (1991)
aphids by in water channel during irrigation to
Calotropis minimize aphid infestation
soaked in (Banaskantha, Gujarat)
water
6 Control of Farmers prepare ash from leaves and Desai
aphids in small twigs of neem and incorporate it in (1991 b)
mustard by Folidol (a chemical pesticide) powder.
neem twigs The mixture is dusted on mustard to
in Folidol minimize infestation (Banaskantha,
Gujarat)
7 Control of Application of tobacco decoction mixed
aphids in with soap emulsion is done to control
pulses by aphids in pulse crops (Many parts of the
tobacco country)
decoction
8 Control of Farmers place freshly cut branches of Alabhai (1992)
aphids in Akada (Calotripis gigantea) in irrigation
Lucerne by channels to control aphid infestation in
Calotropis Lucerne (Medicago sativa). Akada with
soaked water white and violet flowers is commonly
found in uncultivated lands and it’s
latex irritates skin (Junagadh, Gujarat)
9 Control of A little quantity of castor oil is added Patel
aphids during irrigation in the water channel (1991c)
for reducing aphid population
(Ahemdabad, Gujarat)
10 Control of It is collected from either house Chulah Bavabhai
aphids in or by burning cowdung cakes (Mehsana, (1992 b)
Lucerne by Gujarat)
dusting ash
11 Control of Helicoverpa, spotted bollworm and aphid Kalyanbhai
pest complex are generally found in cotton. Aphids (1995)
in cotton are also common in brinjal, chilli and
Lucerne in Amreli district of Saurashtra.
A mixture was prepared from dried
tobacco leaves (250 g) hirakasi (300 g)
and citric acid by boiling in 1-2 litres of
water and filtered. Approximately 250
ml of the decoction was mixed in 15
litres (one pump full) water and sprayed
over crop. Depending upon the growth
and density of the crop, total quantity
required varied; however three to four
pumps were enough for cotton crop.
After a week decoction was sprayed
again. It could control pest complex in
cotton and the growth of the plants also
boosted (Amreli, Gujarat)
12 Control of Talkidi a soil pest, attacks fully grown Thyammal
Talkidi insect cotton plant. Affected plant withers in a (1994)
in cotton by short time. To control talkidi, farmers
onion soaked take 20-25 kg onions in a jute bag,
water crush them using a wooden mallet, and
this bag is kept in water channels
during irrigation (Bhavnagar, Gujarat)
13 Pests and Leaves of agave, Vettikottai (Strycchnos Thyammal
diseases nuxvomica), neem, and cakes of (1994)
control of Pongamia (Pongamia Pinnata) and neem
cotton and are pulverized together and soaked in
Barleria spp cattle urine. The resultant solution is
diluted in water in 1:8 and sprayed
against pests and diseases of cotton and
Kanakambaram (Barleria spp), an
ornamental flowering crop (Sirakkapatti)
14 Control of (i) Mechanical control measures include Paliwal et al.
pests in cotton seed treatment with cow dung (2002)
Cotton resulted in delineating of the seed (fibre
free seed), followed by identification and
removal of pink boll worm infested seeds
and hand collection, destruction of
larvae and infested plant parts leads to
reduction in insect pest population.

(ii) Cultural control measures includes

field sanitations – clean cultivation
during the entire cropping seasons
which results in the reduction of insect
fauna and weed flora in the filed and
intercropping or mixed cropping of
cotton with
sorghum/maize/greengram/blackgram
for augumentation and conservation of
natural enemies of major insect pests.
(iii) Application of botanical pesticides
include aqueous decoction of neem leaf
(Azadirachta indica) or neem seed kernel
or tobacco leaf (Tobaccum solanum) or
alcoholic extracts of neem seed kernel
against pest complex of cotton.

(iv) Alternatively for pest management,

application of ash water in which
leather is soaked by cobbler against
sucking pest or fermented butter milk or
mixture of fermented farm animal urine
+ distillates of neem seed kernel or
application of kerosene oil is practiced
against insect pest complex of cotton
(West Nimar, Madhya Pradesh).
15 Control of Non-pesticidal management Chary et al.
pests in technologies include deep ploughing in (2000)
cotton summer, use of bonfires/light traps,
nipping of the terminal buds to destroy
eggs and larvae of spotted bollworm,
selecting tolerant varieties for sucking
pest complex, spraying of tobacco
decoction, spraying of 5% neem seed
kernel suspension, chilli garlic spray
and spraying of cattle dung and urine,
bird perches, collection sand
destruction of affected bolls. The
farmers who practices this traditional
knowledge gained more income as
compared to the farmers who treated
with pesticides (non NPM) in Warangal
district of Andhra Pradesh. The farmers
cultivating cotton in Warangal district
with high pesticide load are prone to
risk of negative returns as compared to
the traditional practices. Farmers in
Jalgaon/Jalna spent more money for
pesticides which enhanced cost of
production while traditional NPM
technologies reduced the cost of
production by 25% (Warangal and
Zaheerabad, Andhra Pradesh; Jalna and
Bawalaeshwar, Maharashtra)
16 Control of Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) is usually Balasubramani
whitefly in found on the dorsal surface of the an (2000-2001)
cotton leaves. The nymphs are small and flat
with visible beaks that suck the plant
sap. To get rid of these flies, papers
pasted with castor oil/grease are hung
at five or six places in the cotton field.
Then air is blown using a sprayer over
the crop. The disturbed adult flies (white
fly) come out of the plant and stick to
the oily paper. By this method 90% of
white fly can be successfully reduced
(Pondicherry)
17 Insect Concentrated solution of sugar (500 g in Sindha (1992)
control a litre of water) is prepared and allowed
measures in to ferment. Fermented solution is placed
cotton in open dishes at different locations
 between the rows of cotton. One or two
drops of edible oil are added to the dish.
The users say that adult insects (which
can fly) are attracted towards this
solution. The idea behind this practice
is to kill the adult population and
ultimately reduce the reproduction
(Bharuch, Gujarat).
18 Calotropis for Caterpillar infestation can severely Jani (1992)
control of damage a cotton crop. Reportedly the
caterpillars latex of Akda (Calotropis gigantia, when
in cotton diluted with 15 parts water and sprayed
on the crop, effectively controls the pest
within three days. The new growth after
treatment is also free from infestation
(Bhavnagar, Gujarat)
19 Control of Of all the pests occurring in the cotton Kaachhadiya
green worm crop, greenworm (Heliothis spp.) is one (1998)
(Heliothis of the most harmful pests. Leaves and
spp) in stem of Dhatura (Datura metel) are used
cotton by to control green worm. About 250 to 300
dhatura g of Dhatura’ leaves along with stem are
dipped in 1 litre of lukewarm water.
After cooling down, 250 to 300 grams of
the solution is mixed with 15 litres of
water and sprayed on the crop. Pests
perish within a period of six to seven
hours. Spraying the mixture when the
crop is of one-month-old yields better
results (Amreli, Gujarat).
20 Control of When red spots appear on cotton leaves Pandya (1993)
disease in (in July or August), farmers dilute
cotton by buttermilk with water and sprinkle it on
butter milk the crop. When the application is made
during the early stages of the disease,
control comes within a week. This
practice can also be used as a
preventive measure (Bhavnagar,
Gujarat)
21 Control of Farmers spray kerosene oil on the Rana (1992)
insects in cotton crop at night to control larvae
cotton by (locally known as Lashkari). Farmers
kerosene believe that this pest remains in the soil,
cracks during the day and attacks the
crop at night. It attacks crops like
cotton and Lucerne in a cluster like an
 army brigade. This might have been the
reason for giving it the name Lashkari.
Some farmers mix kerosene in the
irrigation water. They make a hole in the
bottom of a tin of kerosene and hang it
on the top of a water channel in such a
fashion that the tin drops kerosene
slowly at regular speed and uniform
suspension goes to plot regularly. They
believe that this is more effective than
spraying because it kills all the larvae
hidden in the soil cracks. Farmers
realize that this practice also kills some
of the beneficial organisms living in the
soil. The practice is in use for more than
50 years and a large number of farmers
are still using it (Surendranagar,
Gujarat)
22 Control of Some farmers add tobacco powder/just Mane (1991)
white fly in @ 30 g per 15 litres with insecticide
cotton by solution mainly with the idea of
tobacco controlling the attack of whitefly
(Gujarat)
23 Use of okra Farmers grow 2-3 lines of okra plant Patel (1991 g)
(Ablemoschu surrounding the cotton field. Cotton is
s esculentus) more susceptible to insect pests like
as a sacrifice spotted bollworms (Earias vitella), worm
crop for pest (Platyedra gossypiella), Jassid Amarasca
control in biguttula) etc. Farmers believe that
cotton. pests prefer okra plant as compared to
cotton plant and attack them first. Pest
is controlled by simply
eradicating/destroying the okra plants
attacked by insect and pests
(Surendranagar, Gujarat).
24 Control of Neem seed extract solution (5%) is Bhople and
cotton boll prepared and sprayed to control cotton Lakbdibe
worms and boll-worm and pod borer of pigeonpea
pod borer of and chickpea (Yavatmal, Maharashtra)
chickpea and
pigeonpea by
neem seed
extract
25 White fly Arali (Nerium oleander) seeds are Murugesan
control in pulverized, soaked in water overnight (1994)
cotton by and filtered. This filtrate is diluted in
seed extract water and sprayed on cotton fields. This
of Nerium practice provides 70% control
(Thiruvadagam).
26 Control of Some farmers use gur (jaggery) solution Ahmedabadi
white fly in to control white fly. One kg is dissolved (1992)
cotton by in 10-12 litres of water and filtered
jaggery through a thick cotton cloth.
solution Approximately 5-6 litres solution is
sprinkled in one acre with the help of
sprayer pump gently on the foliage. The
tiny insects of white fly stuck on the leaf
surface due to stickiness of the solution.
All the stuck eggs of white fly are killed
on the leaf surface which increases the
possibility of occurrence of Madhiya
disease. Hence they prefer to use this
practice once only. This practice can
achieve 4-50 percent control of whitefly.
This technique is used in the months of
November-December (Bharuch,
Gujarat).
27 Insect Farmers in this region use boiled Patel (1991 g)
control in suspension of tobacco (leaf or seed) and
cotton by neem seeds and leaves to control insects
tobacco and in cotton (Mehsana, Gujarat).
neem extract
28 Increasing 20 to 25 kg of common salt is mixed Sanghani
yield of with about 10 cart loads of natural (1998)
cotton by manure and is applied in farm during
application Jyeshtha-Vaishakh (May). It would be
of salt mixed more effective if the mixture is applied
with manure uniformly in all the furrows. 10 maunds
of cotton/bigha is received (1/3 of acre).
It is believed that the manure increases
the crop’s resistance to pests
(Surendranagar, Gujarat).
29 Collection Farmers in this region primarily keep Verma (1998)
and usage of their animals to meet the need of
farm yard manure. It is collected from cow sheds
manure either inside or outside the house. The
dung is put outside the house in a heap
in lower areas, whereas in upper areas
 it is directly put in heaps in the fields
and covered with a thin layer of soil to
avoid its dispersion by wind. Farmyard
manure is transported to the fields in
Kilta (bamboo container) by people’s
participation and also by horses. On an
average 125-250 q/acre of manure is
used by the farmers throughout the
region. Cowdung is preferred mostly fro
farmyard manure compared to goat and
sheep manure because the latter in
large quantities leads to burning of
crops due to the toxic effects of high
levels of N (3%), P (1%) and K (2%)
(Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh).
30 Use of Due to fuzzyness, it is difficult to sow Director of
cowdung and cotton seed as such. To cope up with Extension
mud slurry the problem, farmers of Dhule, Education
for seed Nandurbar, Jalgaon and Ahmednagar Mahatma
treatment of districts of Maharashtra, treat the Phule Krishi
desi cotton cotton seed with cowdung and mud Vidyapeeth,
slurry. It facilitates easy sowing of Rahuri,
cotton seeds. According to seed Ahmednagar
quantity, cowdung is mixed with soil in (Maharashtra)
proper proportion to prepare s slurry to 413 722
spread over the seed. The seeds are
rubbed to apply slurry uniformly. It is
then dried under shade. After drying,
the seeds are sown, This treatment is
given a day before sowing. It also helps
in good germination thereby giving 10%
more yield.
31 Summer Since last 4-5 years, some farmers of Director of
pearl millet Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon and Extension
after cotton, Ahemednagar district of Maharashtra Education,
a new have started cultivation of pearlmillet in Mahatma
cropping summer after Kharif cotton. The area Phule Krishi
system under Kharif cotton is increasing day be Vidyapeeth,
day, thereby reducing the area under Rahuri,
food crops. The farmers themselves have Ahmednagar
felt the shortage food grains for their (Maharashtra)
family and fodder for their cattle. To 413 722
overcome this problem, farmers have
started taking summer pearlmillet after
Kharif cotton and they are getting good-
quality grains and fodder as compared
 to the Kharif crop. Moreover, yields are
also more. Sowing is done in January by
using double the seed rate than used in
Kharif. All other packages of practices
are the same as that for Kharif. Only 5-6
irrigations are required. No pests and
diseases have been noticed so far.
32 Dry sowing For getting advantage of early seeding in Director of
of cotton, Kharif season, farmers resort to dry Extension
pigeonpea seeding of cotton (local variety), Education,
and rice pigeonpea and rice. Seeding is generally Mahatma
done 10-12 days before the anticipated Phule Krishi
date of onset of monsoon. In this Vidyapeeth,
practice, dry seeded crops give the Rahuri,
advantage of 8-10 days earlier sowing Ahmednagar
than normal. When sufficient rains are (Maharashtra)
received, the dry seeded grains start 413 722
germinating. In dry seeding, however,
there is a risk of re-sowing in the event
of receipt of inadequate rainfall.
Otherwise it gives 10% more yield. Dry
seeding of cotton and pigeonpea is in
practice in Dhule, Nandurbar and
Jalgaon districts of Maharashtra. Dry
seeded rice is taken in Taloda and
Akkalkuwa tehsils of Nandurbar district
in Maharashtra.
33 Ratooning of In Nandurbar, Dhule and Jalgaon Director of
Kharif cotton districts of Maharashtra, farmers are Extension
taking ratoon crop of cotton. The Education,
farmers who are having irrigation Mahatma
facilities are following this practice. Phule Krishi
Ratooning is done after 3-4 pickings of Vidyapeeth,
cotton and the crop is supplemented Rahuri,
with chemical fertilizers and 2-3 Ahmednagar
irrigations till February-March. The (Maharashtra)
farmers get additional yield of about 10- 413 722
15q/ha, in addition to previous harvest.
34 Ratooning of In Shevgaon and Pathardi tehsils of Director of
rainfed Ahmednagar district, farmers take Extension
cotton raised cotton during monsoon/rainy season, Education,
on deep which is harvested upto end of Mahatma
black soil November/December. But during the Phule Krishi
last 5-6 years it has been observed that Vidyapeeth,
rains are received during Rahuri,
November/December. During this time Ahmednagar
 new growth of leaves, branch, bolls etc. (Maharashtra)
is observed from stubbles of cotton 413 722
plants. In this crop only weeding
operation is done The flush of flowers
get matured within 2 months and
farmers obtain 4-6q/ha of cotton yield.
36 Raising of In Jalgaon, Nadurbar, Dhule and Director of
sorghum as Ahmednagar districts of Maharashtra, Extension
mixed crop the farmers raise sorghum as a mixed Education,
in cotton as crop scattered in cotton fields. The grain Mahatma
bird percher of sorghum attracts the birds and Phule Krishi
served as a perch for the birds to reach Vidyapeeth,
the insects of cotton plants. Rahuri,
Ahmednagar
(Maharashtra)
413 722
37 Use of Tribal farmers of Nandurabar district of Director of
fermented Maharashtra use fermented pearlmillet Extension
pearlmillet flour to control Helicoverpa in cotton. Education,
flour in water About 10Kg pearlmillet flour is mixed Mahatma
to control with 200 litres water in plastic drum Phule Krishi
Helicoverpa and it is kept for fermentation under the Vidyapeeth,
heap of compost for 8 days. After 8 days Rahuri,
the solution is sprayed on cotton to Ahmednagar
check infestation of Helicoverpa. (Maharashtra)
413 722
38 Spraying of Farmers of Sindhkheda and shirpur Director of
mixture of tehsils of Dhule district and Kopargaon Extension
garlic extract tehsil in Ahmednagar district are using Education
and this practice. Garlic bulbs are crushed Mahatma Pule
monocrotoph and soaked in water to draw extract. Krishi
os to control This extract is added to monocrotophos Vidyapeeth,
bollworm in and it is sprayed on cotton to control Rahuri,
cotton cotton bollworm. Ahmednagar
(Maharastra)
413 722
39 Control of In cotton, small farmers of Pachora and Director of
cotton pests Bhadagaon thesils of Jagaon district Extension
by using and Shevgaon and Newasa telsils of Education
jaggery Ahmednagar district in Maharaastra use Mahatma Pule
jaggery to control pests. Small jagggery Krishi
particles are put at the bottom of a Vidyapeeth,
cotton plant. It helps increase the Rahuri,
population of ants, which eat aphids, Ahmednagar
bollworms etc. Normally a numbers of (Maharastra)
sprayings are required to control cotton 413 722
pests by using insecticides. Due to use
of jaggery particles, the pests are
controlled, which requires no technical
skill and the cost involved is also quite
little.

40 Use of Tobacco is soaked in water overnight. Director of

tobacco The extracted decoction is used for Extension
decoction to spraying to control bollworm in cotton. Education
control This practice is being followed in Dhule Mahatma Pule
cotton and Ahmednagar districts of Krishi
bollworm Maharastra. Vidyapeeth,
Rahuri,
Ahmednagar
(Maharastra)
413 722

41 Use of garlic An extract is prepared using 500g garlic Director of

and chilli and red chillies. The extract is added to Extension
extract to 100 litres water, mixed with 200g soap Education
control pests and sprayed on cotton to control Mahatma Pule
in cotton sucking as well as other pests. This Krishi
practice is in vogue in Dhule and Vidyapeeth,
Ahmednagar districts of Maharastra. Rahuri,
Ahmednagar
(Maharastra)
413 722
42 Use of neem About 5kg neem seed is well dried in Director of
seed powder sun, ground to powder form and soaked Extension
to control in 10 litres water for overnight. It is then Education
bollworm added in 90 litres water and 500 g soap Mahatma Pule
and sucking is added as sticker. This solution is Krishi
pests of sprayed on cotton, chilli and onion to Vidyapeeth,
cotton, chilli control pests. Farmers of Nandurbar, Rahuri,
and onion. Dhule, Jalgaon and Ahmednagar Ahmednagar
districts of Maharastra are using this (Maharastra)
practice. 413 722

43 Dusting of The tribal farmers of Nandurbar and Director of

ash, Ahmednagar districts of Maharashtra Extension
spraying of treat the seeds of vegetable crops by Education
cow urine dusting ash and spraying of cow urine. Mahatma Pule
and kerosene It is very rarely applied on chilli, brinjal Krishi
+ soap and cucumber to control aphids and Vidyapeeth,
mixture for jassids. Some farmers spray cow urine Rahuri,
control of in cotton for control of aphids and Ahmednagar
aphids, jassids. In tribal areas some farmers (Maharastra)
jassids and also spray kerosene + soap on cotton 413 722
whitefly on crop to control whitefly attack. This is
vegetable an economic practice and the cost
crops and involved is much less as compared to
cotton chemical insecticides.
Key words: ash, cow urine, kerosene +
soap mixture.

44 Storage of Marginal farmers of Nandurbar, Dhule, Director of

food grains Ahmednagar and Jalgaon Districts of Extension
in bins made Maharashtra. Store food grains in bins Education
of bamboo for a longtime in good condition without Mahatma Pule
and cotton any incidence of storage pests. After sun Krishi
sticks drying of the grains, it is stored in bins Vidyapeeth,
made of bamboo and cotton sticks and Rahuri,
covered with mud and cowdung slurry Ahmednagar
so as to make the bin airtight. In some (Maharastra)
areas neem leaves are also mixed with 413 722
the grains while string.
45 Ratooning of Some farmers in pimpri village of Dhule Prof. P. S. Patil
Kharif cotton Districts in Maharashtra have started Training
taking ratoon crop of Kharif cotton. The Organiser
farmers having irrigation facilities take Krishi Vijayan
the ratoon. It is taken after 3-4 pickings Kendra, Dhule
are done. The crop is provided with (Maharatra)
chemical fertilizers 2-3 irrigations are 424 004
given till February – March. This
practice is followed to obtain additional
returns from the same crop. An
additional 10-15 q/ha is obtained from
the same crop if it is properly managed.
The practice has been in use for 8-10
years. About 10-15 farmers are
practicing this technology.

46 Use of The cowdung is mixed with mud in Prof. P. S. Patil

cowdung and equal proportion to prepare a slurry. Training
mud slurry The slurry is spread over the seed and Organiser
for seed rubbed for uniform application, then Krishi Vijayan
treatment of dried under shed. Then treatment is Kendra, Dhule
desi cotton given day before sowing. The method (Maharatra)
helps in sowing operation and improves 424 004
germination and yield.
Keywords: cowdung and mud slurry
47 Eco friendly The various traditional crop Dr. Subba
cropping combinations to reduce the pest and Reddy
systems disease in different parts of the country Dr. H.P. Singh,
are as follows CRIDA
Maize-mary gold: Reduce nematode Santhoshnagar
populations Hyderabad
Tomato-crotolara: tomato yield increased (Andhra
Rice-garlic-corn-tomato:Reduce nematode Pradesh)
population 500 059
Groundnut-mustard: reduce nematode
population
Rice-tobacco-rice: control of root Knot
population
Sunflower + cotton: reduce the leaf hopper
damage
Sorghum + cowpea (1:1): control stem borer
of sorghum
Wheat + chickpea (1:1): reduces the pod
borer attack
Castor+ cowpea (1:1): reduces the aphid
damage
48 Direct Cotton is sown through dibbling by Shri M. C.
seeding of hand without any ploughing after Murugesan
cotton harvest of crops such as fingermillet, Kuranoor
pearlmillet with one time irrigation. Thottam,
About 80-100 farmers of Medur village Medur
in Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu are Coimbatore
adopting this practice for the last 10-20 641 113
years.
49 Use of Farmers of Azamgarh collect 1.5-2.0 kg Shri Ranjay
tobacco green leaves of tobacco and boil in 5-6 Kumar singh
decoction to litres of water till the solution becomes Ph. D Scholar
control the dark brown. Then it is filtered and kept (Agri. Extn.)
larvae of for 6-7 hours for cooling. 4-5 litre C/o Dr. C. B.
Heliothis decotion is mixed with 70-80 litres of Singh, Dean
armigera in water. The solution is sprayed over the College of
soybean crop affected crop. The practice is repeated at Agriculture
5-6 days interval. This controls Heliothis C2Krishi Nagar
armigera in soybean Colony
Keywords: tobacco decoction, spray, Adhartal,
Heliothis armigera, soybean Jabalpur
(Madhya
Pradesh) 482
004
50 Control of The extracts of neem seeds/leaves Shri. Hari
aphids by possess insecticidal properties, which is Prasad
using neem sprayed on the aphid-infested crops. Vashishth
extract Thus the aphids are controlled Assistant
effectively. This technique is cheaper Agric.
than the chemical application Inspector
Joshimath
Chamoli
(Uttaranchal)
51 Growing of In rainfed cotton, sorghum plants are Shri. P.S. Patil
Sorghum sown in scattered manner, which Training
plants in provide avenue for birds to perch and Organiser
scattered eat larvae of pests on cotton. This is one Krishi Vijayan
manner in of the method controlling cotton Kendra, Dhule
cotton field bollworm. The idea is that the sorghum (Maharashtra)
plants attract the birds to eat grains and 424 004
when they come for eating grains, they
also pick the larvae on the cotton crop.
This is a practice, which has been in use
of the villagers of chande of Dhule
district in Maharashtra for 20-30 years
and 20-30 farmers are using the
practice.
52 Raising Around 100 plants of castor per acre are Shri. K.
border crop grown on the field bunds in the Lakshmanna
in Spodoptera-affected field crops, because Ph.D. Scholar,
cotton/groun of its broad leaves. Spodoptera lays eggs PG Hostel
dnut on castor rather than on field crop College of
leaves and skeletenize the leaves. These Agriculture
leaves are removed from the field. ANGRAU,
Rajendranagar
Hyderabad
(Andhra
Pradesh) 500
030

53 Herbal Herbal Pesticide formulation has been Shri. K.

Pesticide developed by Shri Nagarajan to control Nagarajan
formulation pests in cotton. 500g neem seeds, 1000g S/o Kethaian
for cotton tobacco, 100g Acorus calamus, 250g Gouda
Asofoetida and 50g Sapindus Koralampatti,
emarginata seeds are ground and the Konur
extract is sprayed for one acre cotton to Dindigul (Tamil
control pests. Nadu)
54 Pest and Cow urine and dung are collected, Shri Sreekanth
nutrient mixed with water and fermented for few Ramu
management days. After fermentation, the content is Shirahatti,
in crops by sieved and the extract is sprayed to Harogeri
use of cow control sucking pests and leaf cutters. Raibag,
urine and Cow urine acts as germicide and cow Belgaum
dung dung provides nutrients to the crops. (Karnataka)
This practice is followed by 5% families 591 220
for the last 25 years.
55 Fungal Fungal disease control in chillies, cotton Shri. S.
disease and lemon fruits in controlled by Murugesan
control in spraying a mixture, locally prepared Periakovilankul
chillies, called Panchagavya. The mixture is am
cotton and prepared by mixing 5 parts milk, 2 parts Sankarankovil,
lemon curd, ½ part ghee, 2 parts cow urine, ½ Tirunelveli
part cowdung and 10 parts water. The (Tamil Nadu)
mixture is kept for 7 days before it is 627 953
sprayed in field where fungal disease is
predominant. Spray of the mixture also
controls leaf shedding and enhances
flower setting. Ten farmers of
Periakovilankulam village follow this
practice for the last three years.
56 Control of Citrullus grandiflora (periya kumuttikai), Shri S. Pidhai
cutworm in Cissus quadragularis (perandi kodi), Muniandi Koil
cotton Tecoma stans (yellow arali seeds) and Street
Azadirachta indica (neem leaves/seeds) Jayanangalam
are ground and pasties prepared. The Periyakulam
paste is allowed to ferment as such for Theni (Tamil
10 days. Paste from Sesbania grandiflora Nadu)
is made separately and fermented. After
10 days, the fermented pastes are
filtered though a thin cloth, diluted with
required quantity of water and sprayed
over the foliage. This controls the
cutworms in cotton very efficiently with
no side effect.

Sources : Inventory of Indigenous Technical Knowledge in Agriculture Document 1/2/3

by Mission Unit, Division of Agricultural Extension, Indian Council for Agricultural
Research, New Delhi 110 012

Information compiled and page designed : M. Sabesh