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KERRY SIDERS
Cotton ranges from 8 to 16 total nodes, with square set remaining near +80%. The heat is responsible for some square loss with fleahoppers taking some as well.
I would really be paying attention to fleahoppers as they continue to move in and out of fields. I saw some first blooms the end of last week (7/14). A field is not considered to be “in-bloom” until + 50% of the plants have blooms. As it is now most fields are going into bloom with 8.5 nodes above white flower (NAWF).
This heat, if it continues, will drive cotton plants to bloom sooner, lowering this value of going into bloom to less than 8 NAWF. The stress of this heat causes the plant to hasten the reproductive period and sacrifices all other growth to produce seed quickly. This is a survival mechanism.
If temperatures would moderate, making irrigation go further, and we have our fertility in place to encourage continued growth (vegetative and reproductive) then we can maintain a good yield expectation.
Ideally, we would not get to 5 NAWF until August 5th. If a plant does go to 5 NAWF too soon it will not achieve its full potential and take advantage of the full season. I always try to stress that we make cotton in August.
So, last week I discussed the issue of heavy wheat residue can cause soil moisture to be lost even after the death of the wheat plant by a wicking action. Dr. Wayne Keeling pointed out that we really need to deal with this back when the wheat was planted.
Dr. Ray White, post-doc with Texas A&M AgriLife Research in Lubbock has done a fair amount of work on how much wheat is enough to produce a cover to protect young cotton and not have this heavy residue which can get you in trouble. Ray’s work indicated that no more than 30 lbs./ acre of wheat seed is sufficient for good cover for cotton. I will remind you of this in the fall again.
So, priorities for the next few weeks:
1. Water as efficiently as possible (deliver water near to the ground). If heat continues, do not share water by tow-able systems, or shared wells. Cut back to your best.
2. Get fertilizer out now, there is no advantage of waiting. It only delays progress and maturity.
3. Continue PGR applications if you have good water, fertility, and a well developing plant. Otherwise, wait till temps moderate and then resume PGR plans.
4. Scout, scout, scout! Do not let insects rob you of precious fruit. *****
West Plains IPM Update is a publication of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service IPM Program in Hockley, Cochran, and Lamb Counties. Editor: Kerry Siders, Extension Agent-IPM Contact information: 1212 Houston St., Suite 2, Levelland, TX 79336 806) 894-3150 (office), 638-5635 (mobile) ksiders@tamu.edu (E-mail)