Pest management is critcal in any cotton production system. However, the pest management considerations in a double-cropped cotton system become even more critical because of the earliness factor. Decisions and pest management inputs must be done in a timely fashion to maximize efficacy and earliness. The following three areas of pest management can promote earliness and reduce competition from weeds.

Thrips Management

Early-season thrips injury delays seedling growth, and crop development. At the very least, a good commercial seed treatment is required, and the use of an in-furrow granular insecticide for the longest residual insect control is suggested.

Cutworms

Cutworms can reduce cotton stand and are more prevalent in the presence of residue, such as wheat straw. Use a pyrethoid behind the planter for cutwom control.

Late-Season Insect Management

Pressure from insects generally increases later in the season, making late-planted cotton more susceptible to injury. Doublecrop cotton will require close scouting and possibly more aggressive insect control measures to be employed. Fruit load is one of the most reliable determinants of earliness, so protecting the fruit set on late planted cotton as aggressively as possible can often translate into an earlier and higher-yielding crop.

Heliothine feeding

Specific cotton insect control information can be found at Cotton Insects

Weed Control

Because of the presence of wheat straw, overall activity of soil residue herbicides such as metolachlor may be reduced slightly. It is suggested to not cut rates of these herbicides and closely monitor weed populations for the need for directed or hooded applications. Additionally, cotton planted in wheat straw sometimes is slow to reach full canopy, therefore the need for increased residuals and weed scouting may be needed.

Additional cotton weed control information can be found at Cotton Weeds.