December/March |
Take a soil sample during this period. Use this information
to build soil fertility by applying compost and other
nutrients as needed. Reduce chemical fertilizer inputs
by 20-50%.
 |
April |
To reduce or eliminate pre-plant herbicides, pre-irrigate
and cultivate before planting. Use technique of capping
before the seedlings emerge. Plant beneficial habitat
(either permanent hedgerows or annuals) along field margins
or borders. For growers with adjacent alfalfa, implement
strip cutting to preserve habitat for beneficial insects
and to keep pests from moving into cotton.
|
May |
Reduce herbicide applications during and after planting
by using specialized cultivator equipment, flame weeding,
or plant based (non-synthetic) herbicides.
|
May/June |
Monitor fields weekly for both pest pressure and presence
of beneficial insects. Eliminate chemical sprays for early
season lygus, thrip, mite and aphid control. Instrad,
protest naturally occurring beneficial insects and augment
their populations by additional releases of beneficial
insects. Ensure beneficials have good food supply by irrigating
beneficial habitat.
|
April/September |
Avoid the use of miticides applications throughout the
season by scouting and timed releases of beneficial insects.
|
June/July/August |
Eliminate the use of late season insecticides when ever
possible to avoid disrupting life cycles and habitat of
beneficial insects. Take one to two petiole samples during
the growing season to sample for nitrate nitrogen. Plant
mapping should be carried out during this period to provide
information on the development of the cotton plants. And
subsequent irrigation and pest management schemes. Continue
careful monitoring and beneficial insect releases when
necessary.
|
September/October |
Reduce growth regulators (like ethephon) that ready the
plant for defoliation by monitoring nutrient levels in
peioles and timing irrigations.
|
October/November |
Reduce or eliminate the defoliation chemicals tribufos
and sodium chlorate by possibly using applications of
mild vegetable, fruit and humic acids.
|
November |
Build soil fertility by planting a quick maturing winter
cover crop. Begin planning for next season. |
