Temperatures climbed into triple digits across most of the Cotton Belt in the past week. Combined with some timely rains and/or irrigation, cotton has responded and is playing catch up after a mostly cool and wet or dry start. Our contributing cotton consultants say weeds are mostly under control and the focus shifts to insect management, especially plant bugs and fleahoppers.
By KERRY SIDERS, Texas A& M AgriLife Extension Agent- IPM for Hockley, Cochran, and Lamb Counties.
Well, the Good Lord has been answering prayers. First, we needed rain. Done. Then we needed it to clear up and warm up. Done. However, it has been too much of a good thing here of late. We have been 100 degrees plus the past several days, and averaging 25+ heat units (DD 60’s) per day.
Fortunately, the cotton rooted down very well into the moisture from back in May and early June and is suffering through this heat well. Generally, producers have been starting up irrigation systems. The forecast is calling for more moderate temperatures as we move into July and a possibil-ity of some rain which we have not seen on the western plains of the Texas High Plains in several weeks.
A great majority of our cotton acres went in the last week of May through the first 10 days of June. So, very little cotton is yet to square. Earlier planted cotton which survived all sorts of challenges has 1- 4 first position squares, with very good retention.
No fleahoppers have been found on cotton causing issues based on my scouting efforts. I can find fleahoppers though in field margins hanging out on silverleaf nightshade. So, be vigilant and scout frequently. We want to achieve better than 70% square retention after the first 3 weeks of squaring.
Based on plant mapping information, our internode length is very tight ( average less than 0.5”). If we moderate temperatures back into the mid-90s, receive some rainfall, and you have fertility in place, I might anticipate more rapid growth over the next few weeks.
Since we are a few weeks behind ideal growth development, I would highly recommend a light dose (4-8 oz) of a plant growth regulator (mepiquat chloride) over the next few weeks (by July 15). This can help with fruit retention, balance out vegetative growth with reproductive growth, and can enhance maturity at end of season. Also, if we do have a late growth spurt, it will be easier to manage having already built some PGR ppm into the plant.