Contrasting Pest Control Practices and Agronomic Performance Between the Sustainable Cotton Project's BASIC Management System and Conventional Cotton Production Practices in California

The Biological Agriculture Systems in Cotton (BASIC) is a program sponsored by the Sustainable Cotton Project.  The BASIC program provided technical advice and support services to enrolled growers who desire “to develop a working knowledge of chemical reduction” which emphasize “biointensive farming practices”.  A side-by side comparison was conducted in 2008 on the California State University Fresno College Farm to evaluate the performance and costs of the two management systems.  Pests were monitored weekly and while treatment decisions coincided, pest control products differed between the two systems.  Beneficial insects were released in the BASIC system for additional protection. Lygus populations differed between the two systems and were a major factor in final lint yields. Total pesticides applied were similar for both systems. Insect counts, pesticide costs and lint yields from the two systems will be discussed.