Managing for Strong Cotton
Growers across the Cotton Belt are planting their fields with Deltapine® brand cotton varieties because of their consistent high-end performance. Solid early-season cotton growth management is key to helping Deltapine brand cotton varieties reach their full potential.
“Decisions and management practices during the first 40 days of a cotton crop’s life can set the stage for a successful crop,” said Jay Mahaffey, manager of the Scott Learning Center in Mississippi. “During the first 40 days of the cotton plant’s life, the seed is planted, germinates and begins to build the plant structure that will, in turn, produce the crop during the growing season. Establishing a normal, healthy crop during this time requires management and complex decision-making on planting date, seeding rate, and weed, insect and plant growth management, to name a few.”
Planting Seed
Cotton planting dates vary widely across the Cotton Belt but generally range from mid-February to June 1, based on local weather conditions. The general ideal soil temperature for planting cotton is at least 65 F in the seed zone, which is about 1.5 to 2 inches deep. The soil should also be moist, and there should be a 10-day forecast for moderate weather after planting. This allows cotton plants to get off to a healthy start, reducing the potential for failed stands, seedling disease and threats from early-season insect feeding.
Seeding rates also vary across the Cotton Belt. Today, the typical range is from 30,000 to 55,000 seeds per acre, primarily depending on latitude. To compensate in shorter-season growing environments, it is recommended to plant higher seeding rates. More plants per acre typically allow the crop to accumulate adequate growth and fruit production potential quicker than in reduced stands.
In the southern regions of the Cotton Belt where growing seasons can be long and the crop has more time to mature, seeding rates can range from 36,000 to 42,000, depending on grower preferences. Indeterminate varieties benefit from lower plant populations. Fewer plants per acre can cause the crop to be bushier and not grow as tall as fields with higher plant populations.
Factors to consider include:
Has the field been difficult to manage previously?
What is my fertility level?
What was the previous crop?
What was my previous planting population?
“If these factors indicate a very strong production system, growers can likely benefit from population reductions in those cases,” said Mahaffey. “Growers should consider population carefully when making planting decisions. Having adequate plant stand is critical for a field of cotton reaching its full yield potential.”
Weed Control
Starting with a clean field and controlling weeds after planting when weeds are less than 4 inches tall is important to help preserve cotton yield potential. Integrated pest management principles should be used to help determine the appropriate herbicide program for each field. Sequential herbicide applications combining different sites of action, as well as foliar and residual activity, help promote effective weed management plans.
After cotton has emerged, it is important to continue to rotate chemistries for an effective weed management strategy. For the first early post-directed application, Warrant® herbicide should be included. Warrant herbicide is an acetochlor-based pre-emergence and post-emergence residual herbicide with micro-encapsulated technology that helps provide improved crop safety and residual weed control for up to 30 days after application. The herbicide provides pre-emergence, residual control of grass and small-seeded broadleaf weeds. Roundup PowerMAX® herbicide is recommended to be included in herbicide applications for control of a number of grasses.
Early Insects
Deltapine® brand Bollgard® 3 ThryvOn® cotton with XtendFlex® Technology (B3TXF) varieties provide built-in protection against key plant bugs and thrips species. ThryvOn® Technology for cotton provides built-in protection against key tarnished plant bugs and thrips species and can be a game changer for growers. With fewer thrips feeding on the young plants, crops can emerge healthier and often reach pinhead square faster.*
ThryvOn Technology for cotton also helps suppress plant bugs, potentially delaying threshold buildup and reducing the number of sprays needed. With a 6.1% increase in square retention, ThryvOn Technology helps plants reach their yield potential.**
Adult plant bugs can be difficult to control. Data has shown that they can inflict significant damage when present in the field at levels exceeding the economic threshold.
“ThryvOn Technology for cotton can help reduce immature plant bug numbers in many cases,” Mahaffey advised. “However, appropriate scouting, threshold adherence and the application of efficacious insecticides remain a critical part of the production system when utilizing this trait. Research shows economic returns for the use of insecticidal treatments in both ThryvOn and non-ThryvOn cotton crops when plant bug numbers exceed the state-recommended threshold level.”
Fertility Basics
Appropriate fertility should be applied during the early season, allowing for availability when crop demand really increases midseason. This removes one limitation to establishing a healthy crop. Basic recommendations include sampling for current nutrient levels working to replace what the previous crop used, and making sure the fertility level in fields is adequate for yield goals.
Visit Deltapine.com for more on ThryvOn Technology for cotton and Bayer Scott Learning Center for field research reports.
*Scouting is critical to determine which and how many insecticide applications are recommended to avoid economic loss greater than pest management costs (i.e., when economic thresholds are met). Check with your local state extension university for the latest spraying recommendations.
**Scouting is critical to determine which and how many insecticide applications are recommended to avoid economic loss greater than pest management costs (i.e., when economic thresholds are met). Check with your local state extension university for the latest spraying recommendations. 48 2021 farmer-managed Ground Breakers® Field Trials in the Cotton Belt (AL, AR, GA, MO, MS, NC, TN, TX) vs. the check (i.e., cotton varieties not containing ThryvOn® Technology) vs. cotton varieties not containing ThryvOn® Technology. 0.375mg ai/seed imidacloprid applied to the ThryvOn Technology seed.
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No dicamba may be used in-crop with seed with Roundup Ready® Xtend Technology, unless and until approved or specifically permitted, and no dicamba formulations are currently registered for such use in the 2025 season. Please follow www.roundupreadyxtend.com/pages/xtendimax-updates.aspx for status updates. Dicamba may harm crops that are not tolerant to dicamba.
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ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS.
It is a violation of federal and state law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its labeling. NOT ALL formulations of dicamba, glyphosate or glufosinate are approved for in-crop use with products with XtendFlex® Technology. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USES AND APPROVED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions about the approval status of dicamba herbicide products for in-crop use with products with XtendFlex® Technology.
See the IRM/Grower Guide for additional information. Always read and follow IRM requirements.
B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your seed brand representative for the registration status in your state.
Roundup Ready® 2 Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate. Products with XtendFlex® Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba. Plants that are not tolerant to glyphosate may be damaged or killed if exposed to those herbicides. Plants that are not tolerant to glyphosate, dicamba, and/or glufosinate may be damaged or killed if exposed to those herbicides. Contact your seed brand dealer or refer to the Bayer Technology Use Guide for recommended weed control programs.
Insect control technology provided by Vip3A is utilized under license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. Not all products are registered for use in all states and may be subject to use restrictions. The distribution, sale, or use of an unregistered pesticide is a violation of federal and/or state law and is strictly prohibited. Check with your local dealer or representative for the product registration status in your state. Bayer, Bayer Cross, Bollgard®, Deltapine®, Roundup PowerMAX®, Roundup Ready®, ThryvOn® Technology, Warrant® Herbicide and XtendFlex® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. ©2025 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.