Bees, cotton and natural cover go hand-in-hand in improving cotton yields according to a new survey published in Agriculture, Ecosystems and the Environment.
According to researchers, the study found South Texas cotton fields that were surrounded by natural land cover and had an increase in pollinators resulted in an increase of up to 18 percent in cotton production.
Diversity of pollinators also helps. The presence of bees, flies and butterflies all helped in increase yields, according to an article in Southwest Farm Press.
Increased cotton production could lead to increased revenue for farmers. The report indicates that revenues in South Texas alone could increase by more than $1.1 million.
Researchers believe what they’ve learned in South Texas can be applied in other cotton and row crop growing regions of the state.
In areas where natural land cover is not available near crop land, farmers can create an environment that attracts pollinators, according to researchers. Growers can attract bees and other pollinators by planting wildflowers between rows and near the edges of fields where crops are planted.