Cost and Benefit Analysis of Verticillium Wilt of Cotton in Southern High Plains of Texas

Verticillium wilt, which is caused by the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahlia Kleb, causes substantial economic losses in cotton. This disease is recognized as one of the most important biotic yield limiting factors for cotton in the Southern High Plains of Texas and other parts of the US. Management of Verticillium wilt is difficult for many producers and requires multiple tactics. Currently, the greatest benefit that producers can attain is by integrating partially resistant cultivars with other tools like irrigation management and crop rotation. Large scale research data from experiments performed at a research farm at Halfway, TX between 2007 and 2012 were evaluated to determine the effect of cultivars, crop rotation, and irrigation rate on wilt incidence, yield, and quality parameters of upland cotton. This study is aimed to clarify the profitability of different strategies to control this disease. The cost and benefit estimates of various inputs and their combinations is analyzed to determine the economic benefit. A base irrigation rate that was designed to meet between 60 and 80% of the evapotranspiration needs of the crop resulted in better economic returns than increasing irrigation 50% above or below that level.  The Highest irrigation rate also increased the incidence of Verticillium wilt. Crop rotation was successful in reducing the incidence of wilt and also resulted in higher economic returns for all three irrigation rates.  The strategy of crop rotation and moderate irrigation had the best returns overall in a cotton field infested with Verticillium wilt.