181
For conventional farming, the tested pest management practices included the
currently practised three sprays with a synthetic pesticide (Ninja, 50 g l
−1
lambdacyhalothrin), a higher application rate of six sprays with the same synthetic pesticide and an innovative practice with three sprays with neem-leaf extract and cow
urine. For organic farming, the pest management practices included the currently
practised application of natural pyrethrum extract, application of neem-leaf extract
and application of a mixture of neem-leaf extract and cow urine. The neem-leaf
extract was prepared by soaking pounded fresh neem leaves in water at a rate of
12.5% w/w for 24 hours. The mixture was then sieved and sunflower oil added to
improve adhesion. For the application of a mixture of neem-leaf extract and cow
urine, cow urine was added. All applications of pesticides and biopesticides were
done using knapsack sprayer at a rate of 198 litres per ha.
The experiment was arranged as split-split-plot in a randomised block design,
where production systems (organic versus conventional) were the main plots with
pest management as a sub-plot and nutrient management as a sub-sub plot.
Treatments were replicated in three blocks, with a test plot size of 10 × 5 m as
shown in Fig. 1. For organic treatments, a rotation was made in season 2 where
organic plots were shifted to plots planted with sole legume in season 1, which is a
Table 3 Pesticide treatments
Management Treatments
Description
Conventional CP-0 – No pesticides
No pesticide application
CP-3 – Currently practised
pesticide application: 3 sprays
with synthetic pesticide
Each application: 371 ml ha
−1 Ninja (50 g l
−1
lambda-cyhalothrin) (in total: 1.112 l ha
−1
Ninja)
CP-6 – Higher pesticide
application rate: 6 sprays with
synthetic pesticide
Each application: 371 ml ha
−1 Ninja (50 g l
−1
lambda-cyhalothrin) (in total: 2.224 l ha
−1
Ninja)
CP-3-N + CU – Innovative
pesticide application: 3 sprays
with neem-leaf extract + cow
urine
Each application: 24.8 kg ha
−1 fresh neem
leaves +3.5 l ha
−1 sunflower oil +5.0 l ha
−1 cow
urine (in total: 74.3 kg ha
−1 fresh neem leaves
+10.4 l ha
−1 sunflower oil +14.9 l ha
−1 cow
urine)
Organic
OP-0 – no pesticides
No pesticide application
OP-P – currently practised
biopesticide application:
Pyrethrum according to
scouting
Scouting determines number and date(s) of
sprays (season 2015/16: 1 application; season
2016/17: 1 application). Each application:
272 ml ha
−1 natural Pyrethrin extract
OP-N – innovative biopesticide
application: Neem-leaf extract
according to scouting
Scouting determines number and date(s) of
sprays (season 2015/16: 1 application; season
2016/17: 1 application). Each application:
24.8 kg ha
−1 fresh neem leaves +3.5 l ha
−1
sunflower oil
OP-N + CU – innovative
biopesticide application:
Neem-leaf extract + cow urine
according to scouting
Scouting determines number and date(s) of
sprays (season 2015/16: 1 application; season
2016/17: 1 application). Each application:
24.5 kg ha
−1 fresh neem leaves +3.5 l ha
−1
sunflower oil +5.0 l ha
−1 cow urine
Yield and Profitability of Cotton Grown Under Smallholder Organic and Conventional…
For conventional farming, the tested pest management practices included the
currently practised three sprays with a synthetic pesticide (Ninja, 50 g l
−1
lambdacyhalothrin), a higher application rate of six sprays with the same synthetic pesticide and an innovative practice with three sprays with neem-leaf extract and cow
urine. For organic farming, the pest management practices included the currently
practised application of natural pyrethrum extract, application of neem-leaf extract
and application of a mixture of neem-leaf extract and cow urine. The neem-leaf
extract was prepared by soaking pounded fresh neem leaves in water at a rate of
12.5% w/w for 24 hours. The mixture was then sieved and sunflower oil added to
improve adhesion. For the application of a mixture of neem-leaf extract and cow
urine, cow urine was added. All applications of pesticides and biopesticides were
done using knapsack sprayer at a rate of 198 litres per ha.
The experiment was arranged as split-split-plot in a randomised block design,
where production systems (organic versus conventional) were the main plots with
pest management as a sub-plot and nutrient management as a sub-sub plot.
Treatments were replicated in three blocks, with a test plot size of 10 × 5 m as
shown in Fig. 1. For organic treatments, a rotation was made in season 2 where
organic plots were shifted to plots planted with sole legume in season 1, which is a
Table 3 Pesticide treatments
Management Treatments
Description
Conventional CP-0 – No pesticides
No pesticide application
CP-3 – Currently practised
pesticide application: 3 sprays
with synthetic pesticide
Each application: 371 ml ha
−1 Ninja (50 g l
−1
lambda-cyhalothrin) (in total: 1.112 l ha
−1
Ninja)
CP-6 – Higher pesticide
application rate: 6 sprays with
synthetic pesticide
Each application: 371 ml ha
−1 Ninja (50 g l
−1
lambda-cyhalothrin) (in total: 2.224 l ha
−1
Ninja)
CP-3-N + CU – Innovative
pesticide application: 3 sprays
with neem-leaf extract + cow
urine
Each application: 24.8 kg ha
−1 fresh neem
leaves +3.5 l ha
−1 sunflower oil +5.0 l ha
−1 cow
urine (in total: 74.3 kg ha
−1 fresh neem leaves
+10.4 l ha
−1 sunflower oil +14.9 l ha
−1 cow
urine)
Organic
OP-0 – no pesticides
No pesticide application
OP-P – currently practised
biopesticide application:
Pyrethrum according to
scouting
Scouting determines number and date(s) of
sprays (season 2015/16: 1 application; season
2016/17: 1 application). Each application:
272 ml ha
−1 natural Pyrethrin extract
OP-N – innovative biopesticide
application: Neem-leaf extract
according to scouting
Scouting determines number and date(s) of
sprays (season 2015/16: 1 application; season
2016/17: 1 application). Each application:
24.8 kg ha
−1 fresh neem leaves +3.5 l ha
−1
sunflower oil
OP-N + CU – innovative
biopesticide application:
Neem-leaf extract + cow urine
according to scouting
Scouting determines number and date(s) of
sprays (season 2015/16: 1 application; season
2016/17: 1 application). Each application:
24.5 kg ha
−1 fresh neem leaves +3.5 l ha
−1
sunflower oil +5.0 l ha
−1 cow urine
Yield and Profitability of Cotton Grown Under Smallholder Organic and Conventional…