Effect of Seed Soaking and Foliar Spray of Humic Acid and Fulvic Acid on Cotton Plant Pests and Yield, Compared with Some Recommended Pesticides

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted at El-Gemmeiza Agricultural Research Station, El-Gharbia Governorate, Egypt during the two seasons 2018 and 2019. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of soaking seed and foliar spraying of humic acid, fulvic acid, Imidacloprid (Gaucho) and combinations of them on the cotton pests, growth, yield, and yield components of Giza 86 cotton varieties. The results showed that Gaucho and Gaucho+ Humic+ Fulvic gave the high reduction percentage of Thrips tabaci and Tetranychus urticae when the cotton seed soaking with these compounds compared with control. On the other hand, the high reduction percentage of Empoasca lybica was recorded when the cotton plant treated with a foliar spray by Carbosulfan+ Fulvic acid and Carbosulfan+ Humic + Fulvic acid were 82.0 and 87.76 %, respectively during the two seasons. In addition, the reduction percentage of Tetranychus urticae was 84.15, 83.44 and 81.38% for Chlorfenapyr+ Fulvic acid; Chlorfenapyr+ Humic + Fulvic acid and Chlorfenapyr, respectively. The effect of Chlorfenapyr on the total number of true spiders on cotton was studied. Also, results indicated that Gaucho treatments increased the Plant height at harvest, Number of fruiting branches/plant, number of open bolls/plant and Seed cotton yield compared to control as well as a traditional pest control method. Thus, seed treatment of cotton crops with Imidacloprid can be an ideal strategy for IPM in the cotton field in Egypt.