Success Starts With Management Practices

Harvesting a successful cotton crop starts with selecting the precise seed varieties to match your fields’ conditions. After that, it’s important to pay attention to management details, which can ensure your seed will reach its full yield and fiber quality potential.

Planting to Early Square

• Follow a seeding rate range of 2.5 to 4.5 seeds per row foot on 36- to 40-inch spacing. Seeding rate depends on soil type, date of planting, ability to irrigate and season length. Use lower rates for dryland production on loamy sands or sandy loams. Use higher rates with conservation tillage or early planting.
• Plant when soil temperatures are higher than 65° F and temperatures at night are above 50° F for two days after planting.
• Monitor and treat for thrips. Early-season thrips injury may delay squaring.
• Apply nitrogen according to extension recommendations. Avoid excessive rates.
• Glyphosate formulations approved for Roundup Ready® Flex cotton may be applied throughout the season, up to seven days before harvest.
• Timely glyphosate applications reduce yield loss due to weed competition.

Early Square to Early Bloom

• Apply glyphosate as needed.
• Monitor and control square feeders to increase square retention.
• Apply mepiquat chloride products or other labeled plant growth regulators during early-bloom stage if plants are growing vigorously.
• If new growth exceeds 2.5 inches per internode prior to bloom, additional plant growth regulator applications may be necessary.

Early Bloom to Cutout

• Apply glyphosate as needed.
• Continue to protect first- and second-position bolls from insects not targeted by the Bollgard II® gene.
• During peak boll loading, crop water may exceed 2 inches per week.
• Continue monitoring internode length and nodes above white flower (NAWF). Additional plant growth regulator sprays may be needed if new internode lengths exceed 3 inches, particularly when NAWF are greater than seven.
• Use tissue test to determine the need for additional fertilizer.
• Cutout occurs when NAWF equals four to five. Scout and manage insects for an additional 350 to 400 DD60s (degree days) or 20 days to protect harvestable bolls.

Cutout to Harvest

• Manage late-season irrigation to mature harvestable bolls, but avoid additional growth and boll rot.
• Crop matures at 50 to 70 percent open bolls or when nodes above cracked boll equal four to five.
• Glyphosate applications may be made up to seven days before harvest.
• Tank mixes of harvest aids are preferred. Consult extension publications for specific recommendations.