W. Joe Lewis, Philip B. Haney, Rick Reed, Alton Walker A TOTAL SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR SUSTAINABLE COTTON PRODUCTION IN GEORGIA AND THE SOUTHEAST: FIRST YEAR RESULTS Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf 2:1129-34 (1997)

Abstract

This report summarizes the results of the frst ycar of a proposcd 3-4 ycar research and demonstration project in biological pcst control, soil conservation and production economics Thc goal of thc project is to develop a comprehensive, sustainable production system for cotton in post-Eradication Gcorgia and the Southeast.

Sweep and ground samples, pitfall traps, whole plant and shake samples, and Heliothis egg predation experiments were used to monitor and compare the seasonal abundance of beneficials and pests in eight fields. Beneficial arthropods monitored included five genera of spiders; Carabid beetles; two Big-eyed bugs, Geocoris punctipes and G. uliginosis; the Minute pirate bug, Orius insidiosus; fire ants, Solenopsis invicta; the Anthicid (ant-like flower beetle), Notoxus monnodon. several Coccinellids. including a Scymnus spp., Hippodamia convergens, Coccinella septempunctata and Harmonia axyridis; a Nabid (Damsel bug), Chrysopids (laccwings), and Syrphids (hoverflies). Pests monitored included the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii; budworms, Heliothis virescens; bollworms, Helicoverpa zea: cabbage loopers. Trichoplusia ni; soybean loopers, Pseudoplusia includens; the tanished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris, thrips and whiteflies. A summary of input costs, yields and retums is also provided.