Page 26 - 21 Cotton SA February 2020

/ PRODUKSIE EN TEGNOLOGIE

Table 2: Total chemical usage per t-shirt for irrigated cotton.
Total chemicals calculated per t-shirt g/ha
Chemical usage g/t-shirt (total chemical usage g/no. of t-shirts, n = 7 600) 0,958

It should be noted that most of the chemicals above. Using these figures, only a little more than
used in the production of cotton are not sprayed 7 kg of chemicals per hectare could possibly have
on the fibre. Other factors that determine how been applied (Tables 1 and 2).
much is released into the environment, include Providing figures on the volumes of chemicals
the absorption rate by the plant, the residual sprayed on cotton is often misleading, and
effect of the specific chemical, and the utilisation production practices on farms vary considerably.
of the chemical to knock down pests. Chemicals Nevertheless, using an estimate from a BCI-
such as fertilisers are used for plant growth and accredited farmer provides an insight into pesticide
fruit set, and little, if any, would be on the fibre. usage per hectare under irrigated conditions. It is,
How long the chemical takes to break down in however, interesting to note that on the production
the environment, how much of it ends up in soil side, the total amount of chemicals that could
or waste water during the production phase and possibly be present on a cotton t-shirt produced in
possibly on the lint in the post-ginning phase, also South Africa (using GMO cotton), is minimal and
play a role. This however, is beyond the scope of should put the consumer’s mind at ease.
this article.
Based on data received from the farmer, less Acknowledgement
than a single gram of chemicals per t-shirt is Thank you to Willem van der Walt, the BCI
possible at most, and could be much less, since farmer, for providing his production figures in
parts can be omitted due to the reasons described good faith.

admin@hanaline.co.za

26 | Katoen SA \\ Cotton SA