IPM/BMP Practices in Arizona Cotton

Abstract

Arizona cotton growers were surveyed regarding the importance of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Best Management Practices (BMP). Telephone surveys reached 249 individuals over a ten-day period. The survey asked growers to rate the importance of each IPM/BMP tactic on a scale of 1 (not important) to 5 (very important). Of the 14 practices /tactics listed for IPM, eight had significant chi-square values. These included scouting, crop rotation, variety selection, petiole testing for nitrogen, pheromone use, equipment calibration, and stalk destruction. Of the eight practices /tactics listed for BMP, six had significant chi -square values. These included crop rotation, timing and splitting of nitrogen applications, petiole testing, time of planting and variety selection for specific suppression (Bt cotton). In general, whether it was an IPM, weed management, or a BMP practice/tactic, the growers scored a majority of the tactics as important. It could be inferred from the growers' responses that they agree that the practices listed as important were, in fact, important grower practices.