Early and Late Season Irrigation Timing Effects on Cotton Susceptibility to Tarnished Plant Bug In Arkansas

Results will be presented from a 3-year study in Arkansas that assessed effects of early and late season crop injury from tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois)) evaluated across 5 different irrigation timing regimes. Irrigation treatments were: (1) early start followed by early termination, (2) early start followed by late termination, (3) late start followed by early termination, (4) late start followed by late termination, and (5) no irrigation. Early start irrigation was initiated pre-flower and late start was initiated at first flowers. Early irrigation termination was at cutout and late termination had one to three irrigations following cutout. The five different plant bug treatments consisted of bug induced damage during early squaring followed by either early termination timing (cutout) or COTMAN termination timing (protecting until the final stage of crop susceptibility), plus an untreated check. The results summary will include plant monitoring data, insect counts, cotton yields and fiber quality.