Early Season Insect Control: Effects on Cotton Variety Yield and Fruiting

Abstract

Many cotton field trials were conducted in central Arizona to compare various early season pesticide treatments on several commercially available cultivars for plant growth responses and thrips control. Treated plots received either aldicarb (Temik), at planting or first square, or acephate (Orthene), one to three foliar applications during early squaring. Although results were quite variable, general trends included: most treatments did reduce thrips populations; fewer shed squares occurred in plots treated at first square; plants compensated for this square shed; treated plots may be earlier in boll production than untreated areas; and most tests showed no statistical differences in healthy square production or in yield.