Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% EC Insecticide Uses

Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% EC is a combination insecticide, registered for use in India under the Insecticides Act, 1968, formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate (EC) that pairs an organophosphate (profenofos) with a synthetic pyrethroid (cypermethrin). It is registered for use as a foliar spray primarily against the bollworm complex in cotton and the early shoot borer in sugarcane, combining two different modes of action in a single tank-mix-ready product for broad-spectrum chewing-pest control. This page lists its mode of action, key benefits and the crop-wise recommended dosage as documented on the manufacturer's product label.

Which Problem Is This For? (Symptom Guide)

Not sure whether what you're seeing in the field matches this insecticide's use case? This guide helps match pest damage symptoms to insecticides sold under brand names including Polytrin C (Syngenta).

Mode of Action

This is a dual-active-ingredient insecticide combining two distinct modes of action. Profenofos is an organophosphate (IRAC Group 1B) that inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase at nerve synapses, causing acetylcholine to accumulate and nerve impulses to fire continuously and uncontrollably, leading to paralysis and death of the target insect. Cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid (IRAC Group 3A, sodium channel modulator) that keeps voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve membranes open longer than normal, causing rapid knockdown and repeated nerve firing. Together, the two actives give both fast knockdown (from the pyrethroid component) and more sustained residual control (from the organophosphate component), acting through contact and stomach-poison action on chewing pests such as bollworm larvae and shoot borer. Combining two unrelated modes of action in one product also helps slow the development of resistance compared to using either active alone, though it does not eliminate the risk.

Features & Benefits

• Dual mode of action from two different insecticide classes (organophosphate + pyrethroid) in a single ready-to-use product, useful where bollworm populations show reduced sensitivity to a single-class insecticide.
• Fast knockdown combined with longer residual activity, giving both quick visible pest reduction and extended field protection from one spray.
• Effective against the full bollworm complex in cotton (American, spotted and pink bollworm) in a single application.
• Also registered for early shoot borer control in sugarcane, a key early-season pest that can cause significant stand loss if not managed promptly after planting.

Recommended Usage of Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% EC Insecticide

The table below gives the recommended dose and water volume per acre for each crop and target pest, based on the manufacturer's product label as reproduced by a major agri-input retailer. Always spray in the recommended water volume for uniform coverage, and confirm against the current product label before use.

Doses above are the manufacturer-listed label rates as reproduced by a major agri-input retailer; this is currently a single-source figure for both crops (unverified - single source), so always cross-check against your own printed product label before use. The unusually long 138-day waiting period listed for sugarcane reflects the long duration of the sugarcane crop itself (typically harvested 10–12 months after planting, well beyond this window) rather than any special hazard at harvest. Converted using 1 ha ≈ 2.47 acres where the source data was expressed per hectare.

How to Use

1. Identify your crop and target pest from the table above, and confirm the correct dose per acre and water volume.
2. Measure the required quantity of Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% EC and mix it thoroughly into the spray tank water, agitating well before and during spraying so the emulsion stays evenly mixed.
3. For cotton, apply as a high-volume foliar spray ensuring thorough coverage of squares, flowers and developing bolls, since bollworm larvae bore in quickly after hatching and are hard to reach once inside the boll.
4. For sugarcane, apply at the base of the young shoots soon after early shoot borer damage is first noticed, ideally within the first two to three months after planting when the crop is most vulnerable.
5. Spray during the early morning or late evening when pest activity is highest and pollinator activity is lowest, and avoid spraying in hot, windy conditions or ahead of expected rain.
6. Repeat only if pest pressure resumes, allowing at least 10–15 days between sprays, and rotate with insecticides from a different mode-of-action group across the season to manage resistance.

Precautions & Safety

• Wear appropriate PPE — mask/respirator, gloves, goggles and full-sleeved clothing — while mixing and spraying; profenofos is an organophosphate and can be absorbed through the skin, so avoid any direct contact with the concentrate.
• This product is highly toxic to bees, fish and other aquatic life; do not spray during crop flowering when bees are foraging, and avoid any drift or runoff into ponds, canals or water bodies.
• Store in the original, tightly closed container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, food and feed, and out of reach of children and livestock.
• Do not exceed the recommended dose or spray frequency; respect the waiting period (PHI) given in the table above before harvesting the treated crop.
• Avoid tank-mixing with other strongly alkaline pesticides unless specifically recommended on the label, and do a small jar-compatibility test before mixing with an unfamiliar product.
• Wash hands, face and any exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water after handling or spraying, and change out of contaminated clothing before eating, drinking or smoking.

Brand names mentioned on this page are registered trademarks of their respective owners and are referenced here for identification purposes only; FarmMate is not affiliated with or endorsed by these brands. This page is for general information only — always consult your local agricultural extension office and confirm the current product label before use.