Conventional cotton production has been associated with the extensive use of agricultural chemicals, leading to environmental and health problems, decreased effectiveness of pesticides and higher costs of production. Organic bans the use of most pesticides while providing premiums for growers, and therefore may be a beneficial alternative for growers. Unfortunately, there has been a paucity of research examining the specific practices used by organic cotton growers and the environmental aspects of those practices. This study surveyed organic cotton producers and processors to document specific approaches and techniques used in organic cotton production and processing, the environmental impacts of those techniques and challenges facing organic cotton growers. We discuss the environmental impacts of organic management techniques and methods for conserving water and reducing dependence on irrigation. We also highlight the challenges to organic production identified in the survey, including management for weeds, insects and diseases, genetic contamination of organic crops from genetically modified cotton, organic seed availability, climate change, chemical drift and marketing of organic cotton. Finally, we suggest that investing in research to produce higher-yielding organic varieties, improved methods for organic weed management, and supporting carbon-sequestering practices will improve conversion to organic production.

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有机棉生产可以减轻集约化传统棉花生产对环境的影响

传统的棉花生产与农业化学品的广泛使用有关，导致环境和健康问题、杀虫剂有效性降低和生产成本增加。有机禁止使用大多数杀虫剂，同时为种植者提供溢价，因此可能是种植者的有益替代品。不幸的是，很少有研究检查有机棉种植者使用的具体做法以及这些做法的环境方面。本研究对有机棉生产商和加工商进行了调查，以记录有机棉生产和加工中使用的具体方法和技术、这些技术对环境的影响以及有机棉种植者面临的挑战。我们讨论了节约用水和减少对灌溉依赖的有机管理技术和方法对环境的影响。我们还强调了调查中确定的有机生产面临的挑战，包括杂草、昆虫和疾病的管理、转基因棉花对有机作物的遗传污染、有机种子的可用性、气候变化、化学漂移和有机棉花的营销。最后，我们建议投资于生产高产有机品种的研究、改进有机杂草管理方法以及支持碳封存实践，将改善向有机生产的转化。转基因棉花对有机作物的基因污染、有机种子的可获得性、气候变化、化学漂移和有机棉花的营销。最后，我们建议投资于生产高产有机品种的研究、改进有机杂草管理方法以及支持碳封存实践，将改善向有机生产的转化。转基因棉花对有机作物的基因污染、有机种子的可获得性、气候变化、化学漂移和有机棉花的营销。最后，我们建议投资于生产高产有机品种的研究、改进有机杂草管理方法以及支持碳封存实践，将改善向有机生产的转化。