Field Crop 2025, Vol.8, No.6, 274-283 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 279 chemical pesticides, easing environmental pressure, and bringing cotton production closer to an organic and ecological direction. It can be said that this approach has not only made the cotton fields cleaner but also more "lively". Figure 2 A. gossypii aphid population on the leaves of cotton plants after treatment with B. bassiana. Mean values of the same treatment with the same small letter are not significantly different; mean values of the same dates with the same capital letter are not significantly different (Tukey test: p< 0.05) (Adapted from Mantzoukas et al., 2023) 6 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Approaches in Cotton 6.1 Principles of IPM in sustainable cotton production In cotton cultivation, to achieve "high yield with less pesticide", relying on just one method is not enough. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is more like a systems thinking approach that combines biological control, farming management, genetic resistance and chemical control, but pesticides are always the last resort. Typically, growers monitor the numbers of pests and their natural enemies by conducting regular field inspections and only take action when pests reach an economic threshold (Mensah and Singleton, 2003). At the same time, protecting natural enemies is an important part. Reducing interference with them is considered more cost-effective than simply "killing insects". At the tillage level, crop rotation, reasonable sowing time and the use of insect-resistant varieties can also effectively reduce the pressure of pests. When pesticides have to be used, selective products are preferred. They have a small impact on non-target organisms and can also delay the emergence of drug resistance (Zhou et al., 2024). These seemingly trivial links, when accumulated, form a relatively stable prevention and control system. 6.2 Synergistic integration of biocontrol and companion planting The effectiveness of IPM often depends on whether the "combination punch" is played properly. Relying solely on biological control or companion cultivation each has its limitations, but when the two are combined, their effects will be significantly magnified. Associated plants can attract natural enemies, provide shelter and food, while microbial pesticides or parasitic natural enemies directly weaken pest populations (Kumari et al., 2024). In some areas, this combination not only suppresses pests but also delays the development of drug resistance. The combination of refuge zone cultivation of genetically modified cotton, biological control and ecological regulation has also slowed down the adaptation speed of pests (Lu and Li, 2024). Meanwhile, the diverse crop structure and ecological intervention make the system itself more "resilient", and even during peak pest periods, it is less likely to get completely out of control.
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