1. Josh Bushong NW Area Agronomy Specialist Oklahoma State University
Cotton Establishment
Josh Bushong
NW Area Agronomy Specialist
Oklahoma State University

2. Cotton Situation Complicated & Expensive Rotation with grain crops
Good in no-till systems
Biotechnology advantages
Varietal improvements
Yield and Quality

3. Soil Profile Moisture???

4. Soil Profile Moisture???

5. Cotton Questions… When to plant? What seeding rate? Variety selection?
Preplant fertility?
What traits?

6. Stand Establishment

7. 2018 USDA-RMA Non-Irrigated Cotton Final Planting Dates for Insurance Purposes
Cimarron
Texas
Beaver
Harper
Grant
Kay
700
10,015
4,797
Woods
126
Alfalfa
2,206
6,289
324
Osage
938
Noble
1,161
Major
Garfield
Ellis
1,661
359
Payne
Dewey
June 20
June 10
May 31
536
Blaine
Kingfisher
3,199
667
Roger Mills
Lincoln
3,303
Custer
945
11,122
Canadian
2,555
Beckham
Washita
16,050
41,102
Cleveland
26,012
Caddo
Grady
Pottawatomie
28,985
4,134
313
185
44,775
Kiowa
Greer
Mcclain
40,187
Harmon
Comanche
Garvin
Jackson
18,454
143,811
Stephens
Coal
Tillman
1,483
133,524
14,756
Cotton
248
Atoka
Jefferson
Marshall 97
Love
301
Bryan
Mccurtain
331
555

8. When to Plant? Optimal germination at 85°F 3-day Mesonet Soil Temps.
65°F at 4”
Dry Five Day Forecast
At least 25 DD60 heat units
DD60 = ((Max + Min)/2) - 60
Minimum air temps above 50°F

9. Predictive DD60 Following Planting
Five-Day DD60 Forecast
Predictive DD60 Following Planting
Outlook for Planting
<10
Very poor
11-15
Poor
16-25
Marginal
26-50
Good
>51
Very good

10. Cool Soils Slow germination Can lead to poor stands
Seedling disease pathogens
Reduced seedling vigor

11. Injury from Chilled Soils
Dead root tip
N. Hopper (TTU) and J. Burke (USDA-ARS)

12. Seedlings grown at 86°F 1st 6 hrs of imbibition at 40°F Taproot???
N. Hopper (TTU) and J. Burke (USDA-ARS)

13. Cool Soils Slow germination Can lead to poor stands
Seedling disease pathogens
Reduced seedling vigor
Request Cool Germination Test Data, >60% germ good

14. Seeding Rates Dryland 25-30K seed/A Irrigated 40-50K seed/A
No more than 4-5 seeds per foot in 40” rows
Plains Cotton Growers Seed Cost Calculator available at

15. Variety Selection OSU Factsheet PSS-2119 Cotton.okstate.edu
Maturity, Yield Potential, Fiber Quality, Storm Resistance, Pest Resistance/Tolerance, Biotech Traits, Seed Quality & Cost
Cotton.okstate.edu

16. Soil Fertility

17. Root Development

18. Cotton is NOT a Grain Crop

19. Fertility Recommendations
Nothing in-furrow
Be careful with Nitrogen
P and K by soil sampling
High K demand
70% total uptake by 1st bloom
3lb/day during boll development

20. Nitrogen Requirements
Yield goal (bales/A)
N requirement
1.0 50
1.5 75
2.0
100
3.0
150
3.5 and >
175

21. Nitrogen Increase by 20-30 lb if in no-till or if surface applied
Residual NO3-N in 0-18” soil
N in irrigation water

22. Excessive Nitrogen Incr. Verticillium Wilt
Incr. cotton aphid populations
Incr. plant growth
Delay maturity
Challenge harvest aid perf.
Decr. Fiber quality

23. New Traits Auxin herbicide tolerance Bollgard 3 Bt Technology
Dicamba – Xtendflex
2,4-D – Enlist
Bollgard 3 Bt Technology

24. Comments Monitor soil temps and forecasts for planting date
Manage for early vigor
Limit nitrogen
Frequent field scouting to protect yield potential

25. Thanks! Josh Bushong NW Area Agronomist Oklahoma State University
Facebook: /NWAreaOSUExtension