All posts by Tyson Raper, Cotton & Small Grains Specialist

07 Sep 2016

2016 Mid-South Cotton Defoliation Guide

07 Sep 2016
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defolguideTennessee’s 2016 cotton crop is rapidly maturing and many of our acres will receive the first shot of defoliant in the next week.  There are many factors to consider in determining timing, products and rates.   In an effort to outline these decisions and provide harvest aid recommendations for the Mid-South, the 2016 Mid-South Cotton Defoliation Guide has just been updated and is now available online.   To access the guide, click the image above or the included link.  Please keep in mind that this was compiled as a regional guide and should be used in conjunction with your previous experiences. Continue reading →


31 Aug 2016

Cotton turning . . . too soon?

31 Aug 2016
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IMG_4307The call of the week (beyond target spot) has concerned cotton ‘turning’.  In the dictionary of cotton rhetoric, ‘turning’ refers to the shift in canopy color from dark green to shades of yellow and red, or senescence, which usually coincides with the second or third week of football season.  Over the past week, the crop has definitely made a turn towards finishing out the season .  . .  and kickoff for the first game is still a few days away. The general concern is this change has occurred much more rapidly and earlier than we would like.  So are we looking at premature senescence and yield penalties? Continue reading →


30 Jul 2016

Red leaves in cotton: Causes and implications

30 Jul 2016
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Tyson Raper, Heather Kelly and Frank Yin
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IMG_1778Observing canopy characteristics during the growing season is a good way to understand the plant’s response to its environment.  Occasionally, portions of the canopy may develop reddish-purple or red tones.  The synthesis of anthocyanin, the pigment which typically causes the reddening, is commonly increased after leaves are exposed to light following multiple abiotic and biotic stresses.  Continue reading →


13 Jul 2016

Managing Cotton Fertility; new Plant Management Network Presentation now available

13 Jul 2016
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PMN_cottonfertility

Properly managing cotton fertility is an important step in maximizing the efficiency and productivity of all cotton production systems; mismanagement by either over- or under-applying a given nutrient can result in yield penalties and substantial increases in expenses.  This year has been no exception- K deficiencies are present in many West TN cotton fields (see adjacent image) and sulfur deficiencies are appearing sporadically as well (see July 6th 2016 article on our modified recommendations).  Although I’ve only seen a few areas which are currently deficient in N, it is a safe bet that the number of areas deficient in N and most other nutrients will increase as we move into boll fill.   Continue reading →


06 Jul 2016

Updated sulfur recommendations for cotton

06 Jul 2016
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Tyson Raper and Frank Yin

ARTICLE OVERVIEW 

  • Sulfur deficiencies are starting to show up this year in TN cotton.
  • Deficiencies appear as uniform chlorosis of new growth, slight stunting
  • Soil applied applications of ammonium sulfate can still remedy the deficiency 
  • Late season deficiencies can be addressed with (2) applications of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt)
  • UT currently recommends 10 lb S per ac for cotton
Ames Plantation, TN S plots
LEFT: New growth of sulfur deficient cotton will appear uniformly chlorotic (yellow) and may be stunted. This row received no S at planting. RIGHT: Applications of 10-20 lb S per acre have been shown to prevent the deficiency. This plot received 20 lb S at planting.

Sulfur (S) deficiencies are beginning to appear in some West TN cotton fields.  The image above was taken last week at Ames Plantation in a trial conducted by Dr. Frank Yin.  Although the soils at that location (Collins fine sandy loam) are coarser than our typical silt loam, I was surprised to see such a strong response to the nutrient by Continue reading →


04 Jul 2016

Managing cotton plant growth in 2016

04 Jul 2016
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blooms2016

Many fields in West TN reached first flower well-before the 4th.  I wouldn’t be surprised if over half of our acres will be blooming by the end of the week.  With rain and warm temperatures in the forecast, expect very rapid plant growth in areas which have adequate moisture as we move into flowering.  For those who have not applied an early shot of a plant growth regulator (PGR), you should consider doing so very soon.  Several points should be considered when attempting to regulate growth in 2016. Continue reading →


23 May 2016

Making the decision to replant in 2016

23 May 2016
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The 2016 window for planting cotton in Tennessee has been a mixed bag.  Warm weather in late April let soil temperatures reach 70 degrees in some areas but several cool spells, including one which might even be deemed a ‘blackberry winter’, quickly dropped soil ‎temperatures back into a more-marginal range.  Unfortunately, some areas also experienced packing rains followed by windy, dry conditions which led to crusting.  Most areas have remained wet enough to allow seedlings to lift through the crust and, in general, we appear to be at a better place in 2016 than we were in 2015 at this point in the season.  Still, several are having to decide whether or not to replant Continue reading →