Profitability Of Cotton Research Articles

Sustainable practices for cotton production in Bangladesh: economic and environmental perspectives

Cotton is a major cash crop in the agriculture of Bangladesh, primarily fueling its substantial textile industry. Although local production is limited, cotton has the potential to bolster the country’s economic growth by supporting local economies and improving agricultural sustainability. An in-depth sustainability assessment of this integral crop is essential to ensure its long-term economic and environmental viability. This study aims to evaluate the sustainability of cotton production in Bangladesh and suggest strategic enhancements and policy measures to improve its environmental, economic, and social aspects. Data were collected from 60 farmers in two villages of Jashore district using a simple random sampling technique. A combination of descriptive, mathematical and statistical techniques was used to analyze the data. The findings highlighted a profitable benefit–cost ratio of 1.88 for cotton production. Positive impacts on cotton profitability were notably linked to the costs of labor, land preparation, and insecticides and pesticides. Despite this, 60% of farmers faced substantial challenges, including financial barriers, limited access to modern agricultural technologies, and a lack of training in sustainable practices. Economic constraints were a major barrier, although the environmental benefits of sustainable practices were widely acknowledged. To address these issues, the study recommends optimizing inputs like labor, land preparation, and pest management, and advocates for policy actions such as subsidies, tax incentives, and enhanced training programs to support the widespread adoption of sustainable practices across Bangladesh.

Evaluating the Impacts of Integrated Pest Management Techniques on Cotton Crop for Cost-effectiveness as Recommended by Dr. PDKV, Akola, Maharashtra, India

Since cotton is a major crop grown for commercial purposes in the Vidarbha region, Dr. PDKV Akola conducted and recommended the current study, which has several goals, including determining the extent to which recommended technology has been adopted in cotton production, examining input utilization in cotton at varying levels of adoption of IPM technology, calculating the cost-effectiveness and profitability of cotton at varying levels of adoption of IPM technology, and analyzing the barriers to technology adoption. The districts of Akola and Buldhana in Maharashtra State's Vidarbha area served as the study's locations. Three tahasils—Akola, Akot, and Sangrampur—were chosen from these districts, and 120 farmers were chosen from these villages, namely Varvat Khanderao, Khiroda, Sangrampur, Rambhapur, Mandala, Kinkhed Purna, and Khambora. The primary data, which cover the years 2022–2023, were gathered using a straightforward random sample technique. As a result of input usage, the group with a high adoption level utilized the most human labor. All three categories had seed rates, resistant variety usage at the indicated level, and sowing times that were closer to the recommended level. Farmyard manure, at 30.68 quintals per hectare, is most commonly used in the high adopter category. This is followed by medium adopters (16.80 q/ha) and low adopters (14.05 q/ha). The results of applying fertilizer (NPK) indicate that more was applied in all three categories at the recommended level. The highest per hectare yield, 16.64 quintals, was recorded by the high adopter group, followed by 14.01 quintals for the medium adopter group, and 12.71 quintals for the low adopter group. The net returns at Costs "A1," "B2," and "C2" were in the high adopter category, with amounts of Rs. 76557.94/-, Rs. 59781.64/-, and Rs. 50163.47/-. For low, medium, and high adopters, the input-output ratios at cost "A1" were 1.95, 2.05, and 2.27, respectively, but the input-output ratios at cost "C2" were 1.36, 1.43, and 1.58 for these same adopters. High adopter farmers saved Rs. 599.58 and Rs. 854.32/-per quintal at Costs "A1" and "C2" as a result of the per unit cost decrease. IPM technology was discovered to make cotton farming profitable because it reduced the cost of plant protection measures while simultaneously increasing yield. As a result, all cotton growers need to employ IPM technology more widely.

Spatial and temporal patterns of cotton profitability in management zones based on soil properties and topography

Spatial and temporal patterns of cotton profitability in management zones based on soil properties and topography

Changing the world one step at a time by example: Building on the New Lanark Legacy

A robust alternative “model” is presented that demonstrates how Owen’s vision of the New Lanark utopia was transformed into reality. New Lanark housed a profitable cotton mill owned by investor-owners led by Robert Owen. It was profitable whilst Owen treated employees and families with dignity in the context of his times in nineteenth century Scotland. Owen adhered to an ethical imperative that he understood would pay for itself through increasing labour productivity. I articulate the conditions under which utopia can be operationalised in the real world with privately owned business. This modelling contravenes the contemporary economic worldview where “utopia” is an impossibility since it invariably increases average cost. Employee co-operatives can have the same effect, but they remain few and far between. New Lanark exemplifies that dominant investor-owned firms can be both ethical and profitable. This can be achieved if investors who have a strong preference for being ethical understand that being ethical can be profitable. Hence, the importance of investors and potential co-operators understanding that being ethical, which is costly, is consistent with a competitive and profitable firm. Without this understanding building an ethical firm is an unrealisable utopia.

A Review of Plastic Contamination Challenges and Mitigation Efforts in Cotton and Textile Milling Industries

Plastic contamination is a burning issue costing the global cotton and textile industries billions of dollars annually. Any time plastics from different sources end up in a cotton lint bale, the value to the textile mills plummets significantly. Various industry players have therefore made a concerted effort to find lasting solutions to the menace posed by plastic to cotton profitability and sustainability. Nevertheless, until now, there have been no up-to-date comprehensive documents detailing the numerous and ever-growing efforts committed to solving this challenge. Therefore, this article provides a detailed yet compact review of this highly dynamic subject matter. First, it puts into perspective plastic contamination in the cotton and textile industries. Then, the cotton value chain is subdivided into phases from pre-cultivation to textile mills. The root causes of plastic contamination are discussed in each stage, followed by discussions of some already developed and emerging solutions in response to the challenge by the affected industries and researchers. Concluding from the author’s perspective, the paper makes projections for the future directions of plastic mitigation efforts within the cotton and textile industries. This article also infers from the reviewed literature that research on finding alternative materials to plastic as module wrap, the development of new, effective, and all-condition plastic sensing techniques for ginning and spinning equipment, and standardized protocols for UAV in-field surveys of plastic trash are some of the areas that will be beneficial to finding a permanent solution to the challenge.

Profit‐maximizing potassium fertilizer recommendations for corn and cotton

AbstractWhereas K fertilization is necessary to maximize corn (Zea mays L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yields in soils with sub‐optimum K availability, maximizing yield is rarely profit‐maximizing. Estimating the tradeoff between yield and fertilizer cost using current soil‐building and/or yield‐maximizing rate recommendations vs. profit‐maximizing fertilizer‐K rates (KR*) provides insights for producers. Thirty‐nine and 24 fertilizer‐K rate trials were used to estimate respective corn and cotton yield response based on soil‐K availability (SK). Using a field's SK, yield potential, yield response to fertilizer‐K, crop price, and fertilizer‐K cost, KR* were calculated over the past 10 yr. Averaging over that period, using KR* at SK of 75 and 60 mg K kg–1 (a) reduced fertilizer‐K rate by 10 and 38 kg K ha–1, respectively, (b) decreased yield by 53 and 32 kg ha–1, respectively, and (c) increased profitability by US$1.75 and $34.24 ha–1, respectively, in comparison to current recommendations for corn. At SK of 75 and 110 mg K kg–1, cotton profitability at KR* vs. current recommendations rose by $11.54 to $25.95 ha–1, respectively, using 36 and 101 kg K ha–1 more fertilizer, respectively, which led to 27 and 73 kg ha–1 greater yield, respectively. As with prior studies for rice (Oryza sativa L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], corn results suggest using less fertilizer than currently recommended, whereas for cotton, strong yield response to fertilizer‐K and relatively high crop price justified KR* that were above currently recommended rates. A spreadsheet‐based decision tool is online to offer this insight to producers and crop consultants.

Fiber Quality, Yield, and Profitability of Cotton in Response to Supplemental Irrigation with Treated Wastewater and NPK Fertilization

Cotton yield under the rainfed farming system in tropical semi-arid regions is significantly decreased by prolonged dry spells. In this context, supplemental irrigation (SI) with treated wastewater emerges as a strategy for the sustainability of agricultural production besides contributing to the reduction of fertilizer costs. The objective of this research was to evaluate the productivity, photosynthetic parameters, fiber quality, and profitability of cotton cultivation, under supplemental irrigation (SI) with municipal treated wastewater (MTW), with and without mineral fertilization. The treatments consisted of three water scenarios (normal, drought, and severe drought), defined by the historical series of precipitation data of 30 years, and two treatments of supplemental irrigation with MTW, with or without NPK fertilization. SI with treated wastewater increased cotton yield in all three scenarios (normal, drought, and severe drought) by approximately 29%, 255%, and 251%. Longer dry spells in drought and severe drought scenarios increased the volume of SI with MTW, resulting in greater nutrient input to the soil, improved photosynthetic response, higher physical water productivity, reduction in fertilizer costs, and higher farmers’ income. Therefore, our results show the importance of using treated wastewater in supplemental irrigation of cotton under scenarios of water scarcity in tropical semi-arid regions.

Effect of the L-D1 alleles on leaf morphology, canopy structure and photosynthetic productivity in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

One of the most important objectives for breeders is to develop high-yield cultivars. The increase in crop yield has met with bottlenecks after the first green revolution, and more recent efforts have been focusing on achieving high photosynthetic efficiency traits in order to enhance the yield. Leaf shape is a significant agronomic trait of upland cotton that affects plant and canopy architecture, yield, and other production attributes. The major leaf shape types, including normal, sub-okra, okra, and super-okra, with varying levels of lobe severity, are controlled by a multiple allelic series of the D-genome locus L-D1. To analyze the effects of L-D1 alleles on leaf morphology, photosynthetic related traits and yield of cotton, two sets of near isogenic lines (NILs) with different alleles were constructed in Lumianyan 22 (LMY22) and Lumianyan 28 (LMY28) backgrounds. The analysis of morphological parameters and the results of virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) showed that the regulation of leaf shape by L-D1 alleles was similar to a gene-dosage effect. Compared with the normal leaf, deeper lobes of the sub-okra leaf improved plant canopy structure by decreasing the leaf area index (LAI) and increasing the light transmittance rate (LTR), and the mid-range LAI of sub-okra leaf also guaranteed the accumulation of cotton biomass. Although the chlorophyll content (SPAD) of sub-okra leaf was lower than those of the other two leaf shapes, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of sub-okra leaf was higher than those of okra leaf and normal leaf at most stages. Thus, the improvements in canopy structure, as well as photosynthetic and physiological characteristics, contributed to optimizing the light environment, thereby increasing the total biomass and yield in the lines with a sub-okra leaf shape. Our results suggest that the sub-okra leaf may have practical application in cultivating varieties, and could enhance sustainable and profitable cotton production.

Commodity crops in biodiversity-rich production landscapes: Friends or foes? The example of cotton in the Mid Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe

The production and trade of agricultural commodities is a major driver of the loss of tropical biodiversity. In the Mid Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe, which is home to many emblematic African mammals, cotton production has historically been a major driver of land cover change. The collapse of cotton production in Zimbabwe over the last decade provides a unique opportunity to understand the linkages between the profitability of cotton and land-use changes in this multifunctional landscape. By re-visiting 141 households that had been surveyed in 2007 and combining this panel survey data with a land cover analysis and secondary data, we demonstrate that the decreasing profitability of cotton led to a shift from cotton farming (mean area per farm decreasing from 1.79 ± 2.05 ha in 2007 to 0.72 ± 0.90 ha in 2020) to livestock farming (mean number of cattle and goats per farm increasing several-fold between 2007 and 2020), resulting in drastic land cover changes. Indeed, open vegetation (including crops, fallows and grazing areas) expanded from 10 to 20% of the total land cover area between 2007 and 2020. Populations of wildlife species have declined drastically during this period, although this cannot be attributed solely to the observed changes in land cover. However, increasing human-wildlife conflicts are likely to threaten the long-term coexistence of people and wildlife in the area. We argue that commodity crops can be an opportunity for nature conservation, not only a threat, and that conservation needs to support a ‘living income’ for people coexisting with wildlife.

The synergy between water conservation and economic profitability of adopting alternative irrigation systems for cotton production in the Texas High Plains

Declining water levels of the Ogallala Aquifer challenge economic availability of the groundwater and necessitate adoption of advanced irrigation systems with efficient irrigation strategies. Irrigation methods and application levels affect water productivity and farm profitability. This study evaluated the synergy between water conservation through a deficit irrigation strategy and economic profitability of agricultural production. The economic feasibility of cotton production was compared using field data for mid- and low-elevation spray application (MESA and LESA, respectively), low-energy precision application (LEPA), and subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) systems in the Texas High Plains (THP) region. Treatments included irrigated cotton with water application at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% evapotranspiration (ET) replacement levels and near-dryland cotton production. Both field-level data and well-calibrated model simulation data were used to assess cotton profitability at varying risk attitudes of producers. Results showed that more irrigation water consistently increased average net return of cotton production for all irrigation systems, except for SDI, which produced a similar net return at both 75% and 100% ET replacement levels. A larger chance of getting a net return greater than $380 ha−1 was observed for MESA, LESA and LEPA systems with the full irrigation at the 100% ET replacement level as well as for SDI with 75% ET replacement. Economic risk analysis showed that LEPA had a higher net return than other systems at each of the four irrigation levels and it would be preferred by risk-neutral, somewhat risk-averse, and rather risk-averse cotton producers. For each irrigation system, full irrigation was most preferred by risk-neutral producers and only minor differences were observed in the expected returns between 75% and 100% ET replacements as the producers became somewhat or more risk-averse. Groundwater conservation can be achieved with SDI without compromising crop yield or farm income, while government policies and financial incentives can help motivate producers to save irrigation water and maintain a high farm profit under spray and LEPA systems.

Drip fertigation improves seed cotton yield, water productivity and profitability of cotton raised under high density planting system in semi-arid environment

The wasteful system of flood irrigation being widely practiced for cotton production in India needs replacement by efficient irrigation systems for conserving water. Cotton productivity can be boosted by optimizing the nutrient and water application through modern resource conservation techniques. Therefore, a field experiment has been conducted during summer (Kharif) season of year 2016 and 2017 to investigate consequence of surface drip irrigation along with N fertilization on the growth and seed cotton yield (SCY) under recently introduced high density planting system (HDPS) in India. The experiment having combinations of 3 drip irrigation {60, 80 and 100% of crop evapo-transpiration (ETc)} and 3 N fertigation levels {125 (94 kg N), 100 (75 kg N) and 75% (56 kg N) of recommended N dose (RDN)} along with control (i.e. conventional practice of irrigation through surface flood and soil broadcasting of urea as 100% RDN i.e., 75 kg N ha-1) has been conducted in complete randomized block design replicated thrice. Drip irrigation scheduled at 0.8 ETc recorded 2.5 and 23.2% higher SCY (2509 kg ha-1) than 1.0 ETc and 0.6 ETc, respectively. Among N levels, highest SCY (2452 kg) was observed with 75 kg N application, whereas 56 kg N ha-1 recorded least. A combination of drip fertigation at 0.8 ETc and 100% RDN elucidated 11.6, 61.5, 13.9 %, and 42.9 % higher SCY, water use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency and benefit: cost ratio than control, respectively. Drip fertigation at 1.0 ETc along with 100% RDN improved SCY by 7.3% over control.

Agronomic efficiency and profitability of cotton on integrated use of phosphorus and plant microbes.

Cotton crop, plays a significant role in Pakistan's economy by ruling a prominent place in edible oil and local textile industry. Phosphorus (P) inaccessibility and deficiency of soil organic matter are the key restraints for low crop productivity in cotton. Therefore, a two years field study was designed during 2014-15, to explore the influence of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), farmyard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM) and inanimate sources of P on various physiological, growth, yield and quality parameters of cotton crop at CCRI Multan. Field responses of seeds inoculated with two distinctive phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) strains viz. S0 = control, S1 =strain-1, S2 = strain-2 and eight organic, inorganic P sources viz., P0= control, P1 = 80 kg ha-1 P from inorganic source, P2 = 80 kg ha-1 P from FYM, P3 = 80 kg ha-1 P from PM, P4 = 40 kg ha-1 P from FYM + 40 kg ha-1 P from inorganic source, P5 = 40 kg ha-1 P from PM + 40 kg ha-1 P from inorganic source, P6 = 80 kg ha-1 P from FYM + 40 kg ha-1 P from inorganic source, P7 = 80 kg ha-1 P from PM + 40 kg ha-1 P from inorganic source and P8 = 40 kg ha-1 P from FYM + 40 kg ha-1 P from PM were evaluated. Results revealed that inoculation of seeds with PSB and collective use of inorganic and organic sources of P had considerably increased the yield contributing attributes in cotton. However, the treatment P7 (80 kg P ha-1 from PM + 40 kg P ha-1 from inorganic source) in coincidence with seeds inoculated with PSB (S1) produced taller plant, maximum boll weight, significantly higher LAI and CGR. Significantly higher seed cotton yield, lint yield, fiber length and maximum BCR of 1.95 and 1.81 was also obtained from the P7 treatment during both crop-growing seasons. In conclusion, combined use of 80 kg P ha-1 from PM + 40 kg P ha-1 from inorganic source and cotton seeds inoculated with strain-1 improved phosphorus uptake ensuing in greater consumption of photo-assimilates for maximum growth and yield.

Crop rotation, cover crop, and poultry litter effects on no‐tillage cotton profitability

AbstractCrop rotations, cover crops, and manures may enhance yields, improve soils, and provide other ecosystem services. However, farmers may be reluctant to adopt the aforementioned practices because of uncertain profits. This study determined the profitability of cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.) rotated with other crops and also utilizing cover crops and poultry litter (PL). Whole‐block treatments were 10 sequences of no‐tillage cotton, corn (Zea maysL.), and soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr.] at Milan, TN. Sequences were repeated in 4‐yr cycles called Phases (Phases I, II, III, and IV) starting in 2002 and continuing through 2017 to assess effects of consecutive applications of sequences on cotton net returns (NRs). Split‐block treatments included winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosaL.), PL, and fallow. The ANOVA was used to determine treatment NR differences compared to continuous cotton and fallow for 2002–2017 and for each Phase. Including soybean and corn in rotation with cotton did not positively affect cotton NRs in Phases I, II, and III. Droughts may explain lack of yield and NR response in Phases II and III. However, including soybean and corn in the rotation provided higher cotton NRs in Phase IV (2014–2017). Better weather and improved soils with residue diversity in Phase IV may explain higher yields and NRs of cotton in rotation with other crops. For cover crops and PL, yield benefits and/or N fertilizer savings did not offset input costs, indicating monetary incentives may be needed for famers to include these practices in their cropping system.

Dataset of source-sink manipulation through growth retardant for enhancing productivity and profitability of cotton in north west, India.

Two different field experiments were conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Bathinda, (1) to manage optimum source-sink relationship through mepiquat chloride (MC) in Bt cotton hybrid and (2) to find feasibility of MC application on non hybrid compact cotton genotype under high density planting system (HDPS) with varied nitrogen levels. Raw data for growth and yield parameters was recorded from each treatment and statistically analysed. In experiment (1), application of MC 75 g active ingredient per hectare (a.i./ha) irrespective of splits between 60 and 90 days after sowing (DAS) was effective for significant reduction in plant height, increase in bolls per plant as compared to control and de-topping treatments. All these led to significantly highest seed cotton yield (SCY) and monetary returns under MC 75 g a.i./ha as compared to de-topping treatment. In experiment (2) of high density planting of cotton, sympods per plant, bolls per plant, SCY as well as nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and monetary returns were increased significantly with 25% increase in recommended dose of nitrogen. Among the growth retardants, application of MC 20 g a.i./ha once and twice reduced plant height, increased sympods and boll per plant significantly which led to significantly higher SCY production as compared to control. Similarly, NUE and monetary returns were also significantly higher under MC treatments as compared to control. Application of MC 75 g a.i./ha in either two or three splits on Bt cotton hybrid under normal plant density and MC 20–40 g a.i./ha on non Bt compact genotype under high plant density optimized source-sink relationship which improve crop productivity and profitability.

Phytotoxic effects of glufosinate ammonium on cotton and soil micro-flora

A field experiment was conducted at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal, India in Kharif season of 2016 and 2017 to evaluate the phytotoxicity of glufosinate ammonium 13.5% SL (15% w/v) on cotton and soil micro-flora and their consequent effects on crop growth, yield and economics. Findings depicted that there were no phytotoxic symptoms on cotton and there was better recovery of soil micro-flora population with the application of glufosinate ammonium 13.5% SL (15% w/v) 450 g/ha, resulting in maximum growth, yield and economic profitability of cotton. However, prominent toxic effects of glufosinate ammonium 13.5% SL (15% w/v) on the crop and soil micro-flora were recorded at higher doses of 900 g/ha and 1800 g/ha, which significantly reduced cotton growth, yield and economic viability.

A Vis‐NIR Spectral Library to Predict Clay in Australian Cotton Growing Soil

A vis‐NIR spectral libraries were built across seven cotton growing areas of Australia. Establishing a calibration from each area independently was more accurate than making a calibration from the other six areas. Model performance improved using a spiking algorithm. Model performance improved by combining topsoil and subsurface samples. To maintain profitability of cotton growing areas of Australia, information of nutrient management and water‐use efficiency are needed. In this regard, information about clay is required. This is a time‐consuming and expensive laboratory analysis to undertake. An alternative is to use visible‐near infrared (vis‐NIR) spectroscopy, which has shown potential at different scales (e.g., local and global). Here, we predicted clay using a machine learning algorithm (Cubist) from vis‐NIR acquired from topsoil (0–0.3 m) and subsurface (0.3–0.6 m) in seven cotton growing areas. The first aim was to assess the ability of soil samples from each area to predict clay independently. The second aim was to determine the ability of the samples of six areas to predict clay in an area withheld from the calibration. The third aim was to explore the potential to improve prediction using “spiking”. The fourth was to determine how much data was necessary to establish a suitable library. We conclude that establishing a calibration from each area independently was more accurate than making a calibration from six areas and predicting clay from the area withheld from the calibration. We also found that improvements in model performance were possible using spiking. When using samples from topsoil or subsurface only, over 93 samples were required to obtain an accurate library. We also conclude that a combined dataset from topsoil and subsurface samples enabled a more consistent set of data with no loss of calibration and prediction accuracy, especially when considering the availability of calibration samples.

The effect of municipal treated wastewater on the water holding properties of a clayey, calcareous soil

Wastewater reuse is a practice that has been gaining attention for the past few decades as the world's population rises and water resources become scarce. Wastewater application on soil can affect soil health, and the manner and extent to which this occurs depends heavily on soil type and water quality. This study compared the long-term (15+ years) effects and suitability of using secondary-level treated municipal wastewater and brackish groundwater for irrigation on the water holding capacity of a clayey, calcareous soil on a cotton farm near San Angelo, Texas. The soil-water holding properties were determined from the extracted hydrostructural parameters of the two characteristic curves: water retention curve and soil shrinkage curve based on the pedostructure concept. In the pedostructure concept, these hydrostructural parameters are characteristic properties of the soil aggregates structure and its thermodynamic interactions with water. Results indicate that use of secondary treated wastewater increased available water capacity in the top horizon (0–15 cm) and decreased the available water holding capacity of this particular soil in the sub-horizons (15–72 cm). The brackish groundwater irrigation resulted in no effect on available water capacity in the top horizon, but significantly decreased it in the sub-horizons as well. The rainfed soil was the healthiest soil in terms of water holding capacity, but rainfall conditions do not produce profitable cotton yields. Whereas, treated wastewater irrigated soil is producing the highest yields for the farmer. Thus, this treated wastewater source and irrigation system can serve as a suitable irrigation alternative to using brackish groundwater, enhancing the water resource sustainability of this region.

English

The most important factor to achieving profitable cotton yields is obtaining a uniform stand of healthy and vigorously growing seedlings. Cotton seedling emergence highly depends on the number of seeds that are planted on the same planting station. The cotton seedling stalk is weak and may fail to push up and crack the soil in order to emerge. Therefore several seedlings put together may use the power of numbers to push out of the soil. Cotton seedling emergence percentage and stand are closely related to seed rate. In Zimbabwe the question of which seed rate is optimal took centre stage in input negotiations between contractors and farmers. A research project was therefore conducted at Cotton Research Institute, Tokwane, Mahuwe, and Muzarabani communal areas during two seasons of 2014 to 2015 in order to determine the effect of seed rate on cotton seedling emergence. The experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design with eight treatments of varying seed rates that ranged from two to nine seeds per planting station and with four replications. Results showed significant differences on stand counts among seed rates. At C.R.I and Mzarabani communal area three seeds per station achieved better stand counts while at Tokwane, five seeds per station resulted in better stand counts. In Mahuwe communal area, six seeds per station performed better. However, six seeds per station was the median seed rate that produced the highest stand counts across sites and across seasons. It is therefore recommended that farmers can plant three up to six seeds per station depending on environmental conditions Key words: Cotton, seed rate, seed, stand counts, emergence, seedling.

Uncovering the economic value of natural enemies and true costs of chemical insecticides to cotton farmers in China

Little empirical evidence on the economic value of biological control of pests at farm level is available to improve economic decision-making by farmers and policy makers. Using insect sampling and household survey in an integrated bio-economic analysis framework, this paper studies farmers’ crop management practices in cotton in the North China Plain, and estimates the marginal value of natural enemies and costs of chemical insecticides to farmers. Ladybeetles (mainly Harmonia axyridis, Propylea japonica, and Coccinella septempunctata), the dominant natural enemy group that controls the primary pest (aphid) in cotton in our study area, provide a significant economic benefit that is unknown to the farmers. Even at the current high levels of insecticide use, an additional ladybeetle provides an economic benefit of 0.05 CNY (almost USD 0.01) to farmers. The use of broad-spectrum insecticides by farmers is alarmingly excessive, not only undermining farmers’ cotton profitability but also inducing social costs as well as disruption of the natural pest suppression system. Doubling current ladybeetle density in cotton field could gain an estimated USD 300 million for cotton farmers in China, providing a strong economic case for policies to move the pest control system towards a more ecologically-based regime, with positive consequences for farm income and environmental health. With rising use of biological control service provided by natural enemies such as ladybeetles in cotton fields, significant falls in farmers’ insecticide use would be expected, which could raise the value of ladybeetles and other natural enemies even further. The results indicate that there is an urgent need to rationalize inputs and move forward to improved agro-ecosystem management in smallholder farming system. Raising knowledge and awareness on the costs and value of biological pest control versus insecticides among farmers and policy makers and having effective extension service, are priorities towards achieving a more ecologically-based approach to crop protection on smallholder farms.

History of Cotton Breeding and Genetics at the University of Arkansas

Cotton breeding research was initiated at the University of Arkansas (UA) in early 1900’s. Early work focused on evaluating cultivars and on making plant selections out of established cultivars. J.O. Ware who began breeding cotton in the early 1920’s studied the genetics and interrelationships of several cotton traits, and released several cultivars. In 1935, he became Senior Agronomist at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Beltsville, MD, then returned to UA in 1950. Several breeders followed Ware at UA. L.M. Humphrey and Ware were responsible for a series of Rowden cultivars. From 1948 until 1986, UA maintained two cotton breeding programs, one on the main campus and the other at the Cotton Branch Station, Marianna, AR. The Marianna program, directed by C.A. Moosberg (1948-1972) and C.W. Smith (1974-1986), was responsible for the release of several Rex cultivars, two stripper cultivars, and Arkot 518. Based on the main campus, B.A. Waddle (1951-1986) continued some of Ware work, and focused on early maturity, seedling vigor, host plant resistance (including the Frego bract trait), and naked and tufted seed. J.McD. Stewart filled the position held by Waddle from 1986 until his death in 2012. His work primarily focused on germplasm exploration and introgression, and cotton biotechnology. In 1988, the two traditional breeding programs were merged into one campus-based program. The program was subsequently moved to the Northeast Research and Extension Center, Keiser, AR, in 1997. F.M. Bourland has led the program since 1988, and has been responsible for almost 100 germplasm and cultivar releases and has established methods for evaluating and selecting several cotton traits. The cotton breeding program at UA continues to develop well-adapted lines and concepts that promote profitable cotton production in Arkansas.