ucts do not use genetic engineering.
Historically, in North America, one of the most economically destructive pests in cotton production has been the boll weevil. Due to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's highly successful Boll Weevil Eradication Program (BWEP), this pest has been eliminated from cotton in most of the United States. This program, along with the introduction of genetically engineered “Bt cotton” (which contains a bacteria gene that codes for a plant-produced protein that is toxic to a number of pests, such as tobacco budworm, cotton bollworm and pink bollworm), has allowed a reduction in the use of synthetic insecticides.
As noted above, cotton production relies on a relatively large quantity of water for proper growth. In addition to the pests noted above, weeds and other vegetation in the cotton fields and surrounding areas may inhibit cotton production, due to the weeds' siphoning of water from the soil. In addition to insecticides and fertilizers, cotton farmers often use herbicides in order to remove weeds and other vegetation from the cotton fields prior to the planting of the cotton. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in many common herbicides used for this purpose. However, glyphosate-resistant weeds, such as glyphosate-resistant horseweed, requires the use of other, non-glyphosate based herbicides.
Typically, cotton farmers use only a single type of herbicide, and this herbicide is applied to the field prior to the planting of cotton seeds therein. Such complete removal of vegetation can not only cause great ecological damage to the general environment, but also removes various helpful benefits provided by the vegetation, such as soil aeration and the addition of nitrogen to the soil. Thus, an agricultural method solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The method of crop production provides an ecologically friendly method of planting and harvesting a crop, such as cotton. The method includes the steps of initially planting the seeds of a crop to be grown in at least one row and, following the planting, spraying a first herbicide on the at least one row and on regions of the ground adjacent the at least one row on either side thereof. Preferably, the first herbicide is an herbicide preparation for destroying glyphosate-resistant weeds. Alternatively, a plurality of differing herbicides may be applied at this time, depending on the needs of the user.
The crop is then allowed to sprout and grow without further chemical applications and, following sprouting of the crop, a second herbicide is sprayed on the entire ground, including regions outside the at least one row, outside the regions of the ground adjacent the at least: one row, and also on the row itself and in the previously sprayed band regions. The second herbicide preferably contains glyphosate. Alternatively, any herbicide that destroys weeds and plant life other than the crop itself may be applied.
Following the spraying of glyphosate, the crop may then be harvested. Preferably, following harvesting, a cover crop is planted in the ground. The cover crop is preferably a relatively small grain. In the next growing season, the method is preferably begun again without removal of the cover crop.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a method of crop production according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an environmental, perspective view of an exemplary planting step in the method of crop production according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a first spraying step in the method of crop production according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a second spraying step in the method of crop production according to the present invention.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM