| Abstrakt: |
Response of cotton fruiting to fleahopper control and subsequent lint production is greatly influenced by growing conditions especially as it relates to water availability. In dryland production systems very high retention of fruit on the earliest positions (1st squaring week) achieved through fleahopper control resulted in no yield increase compared with delaying treatment until the 2nd squaring week, and evidence suggested that under season-long dry soil conditions there was even a reduction in yield when insecticide was applied for fleahopper which resulted in a high square retention rate on the first few fruiting sites. On the other hand, lack of timely control of cotton fleahopper following the 1st squaring week and with adequate rainfall to maintain plant growth, losses from the insect were shown to exceed 200 lb lint/acre. Herein, plant mapping was used to show some of the relationships of how cotton responds to fruit loss caused by the fleahopper. This paper proposes that timing of treatments for the cotton fleahopper might be used to manipulate cotton fruiting rates and position of fruit on plants as a mechanism to maximize yield and profit. Factors affecting the change in fleahopper management tactics from that of a decade ago possibly include growing of longer season cotton varieties, more effective control tactics for other insect pests, and lack of boll weevils in the production system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
