Things are looking good in cotton fields around this area. From what I hear, this is a fairly general fact in the Midsouth.

I have picked up reports that fruit retention in some western areas may be below normal, since much of that part of the nation has experienced more rain and overcast weather than in most years.  Their crop may be a little later than usual as a result. But I will still bet on a good crop there unless we continue to get tropical weather moving through that region which accounts for a large share of the total U.S. cotton crop.

Like many of you, I had expected that when we planted more cotton as we have this season the market would fall apart and we would have to run back to the grains as a refuge; however that does not seem to be happening. According to several of the marketing gurus demand is still strong for cotton. We need to grow cotton; and we need what it does for local economies.

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Thankfully, we planted good varieties this year as the result of continued testing during the “slump” years. Most of the crop is planted to less than a half-dozen very good varieties that proved themselves throughout this area during the last three or four seasons. They seem to be holding true to form with fruit retention and maturation of bolls. Much of the crop is past node above white flower (NAWF) seven now; and we are beginning to see quite a few fields at NAWF five or later.

Some of the earliest planted fields are in “hard” cutout now. Some of these were missed by the summer showers that kept most of the crop going in late June and early July. I have seen fields in this condition that will likely produce yields below 400 pounds, while others are fairly well loaded and will yield respectably even though rain has been scarce.

The common denominator seems to be soil quality, and the fact that most fields have been out of cotton for as much as four years. Several farmers have also commented to me that poultry litter has impressed them with its ability to increase virtually every aspect of plant growth and development. 

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As the result of rotation, poultry litter application, and overall improvement in varietal nitrogen use efficiency, many growers reduced their N application rates this year.

A few fields now seem to be going off color just a little which may tempt some to apply more N; however I would advise against this with the knowledge that the crop is filling fruit rapidly and N is being directed to seed production. I still hold to the premise that in the Hill country a rate of 80 pounds of total N is sufficient for cotton; and this is supported by research here and in neighboring states.

Side benefits include the fact that lower N rates produce plants that are less attractive to insects; mature and open earlier, and are much easier to prepare for harvest.  In situations where cotton seems to be running going “off-color” a little with a heavy boll load some may want to consider foliar N included along with insecticide applications.

I am including a chart from a 1989 study by Oosterhuis and Zhu in which they identified the fate of foliar applied N applied at about the same stage much of our cotton is currently. As you can see, they show that 30 percent of foliar N moved to subtending bolls within 24 hours, and 70 percent within 24.

A statement by Drs. Oosterhuis, Hake, and Burmester included in the July 1991 issue of Cotton Physiology Today adds basis to this: 

“The best use of foliar fertilizers is to supplement a good soil based fertilizer program. When environmental conditions are favorable for a large boll set, the crop will need and utilize significantly more nutrients than if boll set is limited. Under these favorable conditions, in-season foliar fertilization to supplement a soil applied program may be necessary for maximum yield and quality.”

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The application of foliar N can be a hassle if you use dry urea; but it may be worth the effort. Several products are offered by suppliers which can simplify this application; and some of these materials contain other elements like potassium and boron which may also contribute to yield.  It just depends on your situation and how much you are willing to invest in it. 

If you listen to those who make and market these products they make some pretty strong claims; but the basic principle is to get a little more N into the plant during the time when soil applied N may be getting short or when soil moisture levels limit the amount of N that is in the soil solution. A simple way to get some of this benefit is to put one pound of urea into your spray tank for each acre the load covers.

Two pounds per acre will require more time and effort in mixing; or you can pre-dissolve the urea so that it can be poured into the tank while you are loading.  Please be sure to use urea since other forms of N will lead to leaf burn.

Keep rates low since even urea can cause damage at rates above what I have discussed here.

A word about this year's conventional cotton. I know that some don’t appreciate my talking about conventional cotton varieties, but the few people growing them this year are doing well, so far. Weed control practices were of course similar to what we were doing prior to RR varieties, but the one problem these folks are not having is that of glyphosate-resistant weeds.

We have experienced problems with Heliothis, as expected; but the latest generation of insecticides has proven very effective in controlling them. These products look as good as the pyrethroids did when they were first introduced.

The only hitch with these new products is that some of them are weak on other pests like stinkbug, plantbugs, and mites. We still have to use other products for those pests.   We have two conventional variety trials in this area that I would be happy to show to anyone who may be interested. I hope to have a turnrow meeting if there is sufficient interest. Let me know.