Impact of cotton planting date and nitrogen fertilization on Bemisia argentifolii populations

Abstract The silverleaf whitefly ( Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring) is a widely distributed pest of cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) and the population levels may be affected by rates of nitrogen fertilization and planting date. Field experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of cotton planting date and nitrogen fertilization on silverleaf whitefly population dynamics. Cotton was planted on 26 April and 8 June, for the early and late plantings, respectively. Nitrogen treatments consisted of soil applications of 0, 112, 168 and 224 kg of nitrogen per hectare. The population levels of adult whiteflies were much higher on early-planted cotton than on late planting. Also, increased numbers of adult whiteflies on both early and late plantings occurred with increasing amounts of applied nitrogen. Applied nitrogen increased seed cotton yields of early plantings but had no effect on the yields of late plantings.