Red Rains, Early Season Deer Damage, And Cotton Replant Decisions
JOSH LEE
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
We have finally gotten so much needed rain across the state and planters are back in the field. However, some areas of the state like central Alabama got a little more rain than what they bargained for. When talking with Scott Graham and Blake Lanton we said that we can’t complain about rain, this is what we’ve prayed for. I read where Glen Harris described these rain events as the “red rains”. These are the rains that are intense events that drop several inches of water in a short amount of time. So, what do red rains mean in terms of cotton production in the early season? Seedling cotton can quickly become waterlogged in areas of the field with poor drainage. Under waterlogged conditions, cotton roots have low oxygen availability; therefore, delaying seedling growth. I know time is money but walk fields and monitor the moisture level in the field before planting. It may be worth your time in the long run to let those fields dry out and plant into appropriate soil moisture and not risk a tractor getting stuck in the field. Another thing to keep in mind is that any insecticides applied in furrow may not have as much effectiveness if heavy rainfall occurred shortly after planting.
Early Season Deer Damage and Cotton Replant Decisions
As we think about early season pests of cotton, whitetail deer are one of the biggest pest problems in Alabama. Stand loss due to deer damage usually starts around the field edges or near a wood line and work progressively inward. If deer bite below the cotyledons that plant is considered a dead seedling. If deer feed above the cotyledon (still hope for the plant) the plant loses apical dominance, and plants form “v” shaped canopies. These damaged plants have delayed maturity and can result in yield reductions. In scenarios where you have a damaged field edge due to deer damage should you replant? This is a difficult question to answer and will be dependent on factors like planting window and deer feeding intensity. In general, when considering a replant situation, you must look at the planting window. Is there enough time left in the growing season to fully mature this crop if I replant? Are weather conditions ideal to get a good stand (ex: soil moisture)? The next step is to evaluate the stand. A general rule is that you need at least one plant for every step you take (3ft). Cotton can compensate for stand loss and damage in the early season if there is sufficient growing length left in the season. Overall, if a field has 50% or more 3ft skips or greater a replant is warranted. In areas of the field where deer damage has occurred, treat those areas like late planted cotton. However, do not be too aggressive on PGR to allow for the plant to have enough vegetative growth to set bolls. Research is being conducted this season to evaluate deer damaged stands and its impact on lint yield. Y’all stay tuned for our winter cotton production meetings. As always if you have any questions as we continue into the cotton season, please don’t hesitate to reach out if I can help. ∆
JOSH LEE
ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY
Link to Original Article: https://mailchi.mp/4b5615d2326d/october-4-2019-alabama-cotton-shorts-5758771?e=fed2a809ad
