Efficacy and persistence of neonicotinoid seed treatments in cotton

Neonicotinoid insecticide seed treatments are most widely used preventative control measures against early season insect pests in cotton. Efficacy of these insecticide seed treatments may depend on both biotic and abiotic factors. Among the biotic factors, target insect or insect species plays a significant role. However, several abiotic factors such as soil type, irrigation methods or available soil moisture could potentially influence the availability and persistence of the insecticide in the plant system. Quantification of neonicotinoid insecticide or its metabolite at different time interval and across different plant parts is necessary to understand the efficacy of these insecticides against target pests.