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Habitat: What
and How To Plant | 13
The bottom line with habitat is that any habitat planted
around your cotton is better than none. Most growers will
agree that its best to grow cotton next to corn or alfalfa
to provide a food source for beneficial insects.
With no corn or alfalfa, planting two rows
of habitat along ditches or furrows (about 1% of the field)
on the down wind side can be an effective tool. Remember,
this habitat will require some water.
Suggested species
Corn—90, 120, 150-days. Alfalfa, Mustard, Sunflower,
Yarrow, Fennel, Milo, Grains, Cilantro, Dill, Velvet Beans,
Buckwheat, Black-eyed peas, Radish.
Planting Methods. There are many different planting scenarios
that may be utilized. Three suggestions follow:
1:: Plant habitat before
planting cotton
This may be difficult due to water considerations,
but by having the habitat in ahead of the cotton, it will
divert the attention of the aphids and other pests and help
keep them from moving to the cotton.
2:: Plant with the cotton
This may be the easiest way to add habitat. You do lose
the advantage of having the habitat up and growing and serving
to attract the natural enemies of pests.
3:: Plant after the
cotton
Growers can go back along the field margins after
planting and add habitat. Another effective practice is
to fill in the bare spot in the field with habitat. This
will provide small pockets of beneficial plants that may
lure pests from the cotton to the habitat. This can be done
by hand.
Whichever planting scenario you choose, the habitat will
need to watered along with your cotton during the season.
There is no right way to plant. Growers have used many methods,
for example, putting the seed all together in a planter,
or planting the corn, sunflowers and sorghum in the outside
row and the smaller seeded plants in the next row, planting
by hand, what ever works for you.
Growers enrolled in the BASIC Program are
encouraged to plant annual beneficial habitat on their field
margins. This habitat serves as pollen and nectar sources
for the beneficial insects that help keep your cotton clean.
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