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 COTMAN™ is a crop information system based on in-season plant monitoring.
The COTMAN computer software makes it easy to enter data and generate the reports used to make management decisions. It is divided into two parts:
- SQUAREMAN is used to monitor crop development up to time of first flowers. Reports provide feedback on square retention and plant stress.
- BOLLMAN is used when the crop is flowering to monitor boll-loading stress and to assist with end- of-season crop termination decisions. A non- computer version of BOLLMAN is available.
Why Use COTMAN as a Management Tool?
COTMAN Improves Profitability
- Each field has its own report.
- Square shed information alerts growers to pest problems and augments insect scouting reports.
- A quick comparison to the Target Development Curve tells if crop pace is too slow, too fast or right on track for a high and early yield.
- A quick comparison to the Target Development Curve tells if crop pace is too slow, too fast or right on track for a high and early yield.
- Crop curves can detect stress.
COTMAN is Easy to Use
- At first square, field stand counts and average first fruiting node number are recorded.
- From first square to first flower, ten plants at each of four sites in a field are monitored weekly for the presence or absence of first-position squares.
- From first flower until cutout, nodes-above- white-flower (NAWF) counts are recorded weekly from ten plants at each of four sites per field.
- From cutout until defoliation, daily high and low temperatures are recorded from a local weather source.
COTMAN Provides Timely Information
- Square retention
- Plant and fruit numbers per acre
- Graph of crop developmental pace
- Flowering date of the last effective boll population (cutout)
- Dates when bolls are safe from damage by fruit-feeding insects — bollworms, tobacco budworms, plant bugs and boll weevils
- Dates when crop is ready for defoliation
COTMAN is Profitable
- The cost of full-season crop monitoring is more than offset by savings on late-season insecticide
- Timely feedback on crop developmental pace and stress gives growers potential to
- Take prompt corrective actions
- Integrate management systems
- Meet objectives of overall profitability
COTMAN has been Tested from Texas to Virginia
- Crop termination rules for insecticide and defoliation have been proven on commercial farms.
- NAWF-based insecticide termination is part of Cooperative Extension Service Recommendations in several states.
COTMAN has a Strong Research Base
- Researchers are entomologists, plant physiologists, plant breeders, weed scientists, agricultural engineers and agricultural economists.
- Since 1994, when the software was first tested on-farm, COTMAN has been continually refined and updated with the latest research results. Irrigation termination decision rules currently are under development.
COTMAN Users Cite Positive Experiences
 "I feel that it (COTMAN) has more potential than any
management tool that I have been exposed to. It gave me that road map that I needed to keep my crop on track." (David Wildy, Arkansas grower; Arkansas
Agricultural Experiment Station, Special Report 172, 1995)
"You have to anticipate problems with ultra narrow row, and COTMAN fine-tunes your ability to anticipate problems. I would like to have COTMAN run on all of my cotton acreage." (Mike Escue, Tennessee grower; Delta Farm Press, Dec. 19, 1997)
"With the program (COTMAN), we can cut off at least one insecticide spray at the end of the year in most years and sometimes can cut off two or three and still not hurt our yield." (Dale Wells, Arkansas
consultant; Delta Farm Press, Feb. 20, 1998)
"...(G)iven historical weather data for a particular
location, a farmer can use this program (COTMAN) to predict when a field will be ready to defoliate and harvest. That can be done in July or early August. This can help with custom harvesters and get a farmer within a week of actual harvest."
(Owen Gwathmey, Tennessee Extension Service; Delta Farm
Press, Sept. 18 1998)
Computer Requirements
The software requires Windows XP or later operating system, Explorer 6 or FireFox, and a minimum of 50 MB free hard drive space.
COTMAN Availability
The software is distributed in the U.S. at no charge. A copy can be obtained from the COTMAN website http://cotman.org . If you need help in downloading the software send an email to cotman@agrenaissance.com.
More information about COTMAN can be found at:
http://cotman.org
COTMAN was developed with support from Cotton Incorporated.
*COTMAN software development has been supported by U.S. grower funds, and distribution is restricted to locations in the U.S.
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