Evaluation of Supplemental Nitrogen Applications in Deltapine® Brand Cotton Products at the Bayer Learning Center, Scott, MS (2023)

TRIAL OBJECTIVE

• Cotton yields have greatly increased, which has led to many fields having fertility deficiency symptoms.
• Growers often ask if applying mid-season supplemental nitrogen (N) would be beneficial.
• Understanding that N is an important macronutrient involved in many plant processes, including energy transport, vegetative development, and oil production, the Bayer Learning Center at Scott, MS decided to evaluate mid-season N applications in 2023.

RESEARCH SITE DETAILS

• First nitrogen application
  • Single application
    • 8 node growth stage.
    • Surface applied.
    • 96 lb actual N applied as 30-0-0-2.5 (N-P-K-S).
  • 150 lb ammonium sulfate (AMS) applied at mid bloom, equivalent to:
    • 31.4 lb actual N
    • 36.0 lb actual Sulfur (S)
• All field work, tillage, and herbicides were per local standards.
• Deltapine® Brand Products Planted
  • DP 2211 B3TXF (Bollgard^® 3 ThryvOn™ Cotton with XtendFlex^® Technology)
  • DP 2317 B3TXF (Bollgard^® 3 ThryvOn™ Cotton with XtendFlex^® Technology)
  • DP 2127 B3XF (Bollgard^® 3 XtendFlex^® cotton)
  • DP 2328 B3TXF (Bollgard^® 3 ThryvOn™ Cotton with XtendFlex^® Technology)
  • DP 2333 B3XF (Bollgard^® 3 XtendFlex^® cotton)
• Plot Design
  • 4 replications.
  • Randomized complete block.
  • Split plot design.
  • 12 rows per product, 145 feet long.
• Field was potentially high yielding.
  • This could be viewed as the optimal case to supplement fertility.
• Data collected:
  • Machine harvested to determine seed cotton/acre yields.
  • Site turnouts used to estimate lint yields/acre.

Understanding the Results

• Product Performance
  • The five Deltapine® brand products were statistically similar in lint yield per acre (Figure 1).
  • No statistical change in lint yield was observed with the supplemental AMS application (Figure 2).
  • No interaction between cotton product and AMS Application was detected in the data (Figure 3).

KEY LEARNINGS

• In this trial, several of the newest Deltapine^® brand cotton products demonstrated similar yield performance to the standards tested.
• No response to supplemental nitrogen (N) applications was observed in this study.
• There may be situations where cotton crops would respond positively to supplemental N (thinner soils, flushed/denitrified fertilizers, weaker background fertility).
• Growers should evaluate each specific case using previous experience, soil testing, and consultation with trusted advisors.
• Please contact your local Deltapine^® brand representative for more information.

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