Keywords: cotton bollworm , cotton planting areas , China
On 5 July, 2017, the National Agro-Tech Extension and Service Center (NATESC) of China updated a piece of information. It says the volume of left first-generation cotton bollworms in most regions of North China, West China and Huanghuai Region is high. Considering the favorable weather conditions in June, it is predicted that second-generation cotton bollworms will strike cotton planting areas lightly this year.
However, they will strike other crops like corn, peanut, soybean and vegetables seriously in northern China. And the situation in some parts in Northwest China and North China will be worsened obviously.
The NATESC predicts that the stricken cotton planting area by second-generation cotton bollworms will be around 0.67 million ha. While that of other crops will be 2.0 million ha, with the peak period from the middle of June to early July.
In 2017, the planting area of cotton in several main planting regions of the crop keeps going down. Moreover, most of the planted cotton is of GM Bt, with obvious control of the occurrence of the pests. However, crops like corn, peanut, soybean and vegetables provide suitable hosting conditions for the harm and reproduction of cotton bollworms. That means the worsened harm in recent years.
The NATESC reminds local agricultural governments to strengthen the research on crop fields. And timely guide the scientific prevention and control during the egging and small-age larval stages. The purpose is to reduce harm and loss, and protect the safety of crop growth.
