Achieving Good Emergence And A Healthy Stand

VIRGINIA | Hunter Frame

April is burndown month for cotton here in Virginia and sprayers are covering as many acres as possible. As I write this in March, it looks like cotton acres will be up in Virginia as corn and soybean prices remain lower and less competitive. However, things can change in a hurry as we all know.

Proper burndown is key to achieving adequate cotton stands. Winter cover crops are becoming increasingly utilized in Virginia with research demonstrating that cotton can be produced following legume cover crops without the need for fertilizer nitrogen. Timely burndown is critical to minimizing competition for soil moisture and preventing cover crops from becoming weeds themselves. Also, seed preparation is complicated with the use of cover crops, so producers need to commit to a complete kill of the cover crop or planting “green” when it comes to cotton. Most are burning down to alleviate complications when utilizing strip-tillage for cotton planting.

Little to no cotton is produced using conventional tillage in Virginia, and only a small amount of acreage is grown under no-till. The difficultly of high biomass cover crops is maintaining proper seeding depth when you have a residue layer 2 to 5 inches thick and want a cotton seed no deeper than 0.75 inches. When equipment is set properly, even in heavy cover-crop biomass, cotton stands can be achieved with surprising results.

An adequate stand in Virginia is a final population of two plants per row foot, equaling 29,000 plants per acre on 36-inch row spacing. We recommend having a goal of two plants per row-foot and a final plant population around 33,000 plants per acre. This would mean a seeding rate of 2.3 to 2.5 seeds per row foot. Finally, check your cool and warm germination for your seed lot and plant when environmental conditions are conducive for cotton emergence. whframe@vt.edu

TENNESSEE | Tyson Raper

Over the past several years, we have had an opportunity to plant early — notably earlier than in recent history. While most have realized benefits from these early planting dates, it is extremely important to remember that the cotton seedling is most sensitive to chilling injury during the inhibition of water which occurs, if adequate soil moisture is available, immediately after planting. 

Unfortunately, if the temperature of the water imbibed is cold enough to generate chilling injury, lasting impacts on the plant will be noted, and those impacts typically include a reduction in yield potential. Interestingly enough, the seedling is considerably more tolerant to cool temperatures after this growth stage; we can actually tolerate significant cold snaps or blackberry winters with no long-term implications IF the cold arrives later in the plant’s life cycle.

There are several takeaways here. First, soil temperature at planting is extremely important. That is why we emphasize it in our “when to plant” recommendations. If your soil is below your Extension’s recommended temperatures, wait. However, if you find yourself in a window with favorable conditions and soil temperatures warm enough to plant, know either if 1) the plant is able to emerge before a significant cold snap, or 2) the cold snap occurs after planting and before emergence but is brief, you will likely see little to no true yield impacts from that stress. For Tennessee, April cotton is hard to beat if planted into warm soils. traper@utk.edu

NORTH CAROLINA | Keith Edmisten

A key factor in establishing a successful stand is knowing the seed quality of each seed lot. As Dr. Collins highlighted last month with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Cotton Seed Testing Program, understanding your seed’s potential is essential.

Once you have your test results, carefully match seed lots to anticipated planting conditions. While much of the seed in North Carolina is suitable for good-to-moderate conditions, prioritize high-quality seed for challenging scenarios, such as poor planting conditions or when planting deeper to reach moisture. Be aware that deep planting can increase the risk of soil crusting, hindering emergence.

To aid in making informed decisions, use the Cotton Planting Condition Calculator available on cotton.ces.ncsu.edu. keith_edmisten@ncsu.edu

MISSOURI | Bradley Wilson

Seed is major investment at the beginning of the season, so planting in optimal conditions is key to producing a healthy stand. Cotton planting in Missouri can happen relatively quickly depending on environmental conditions observed in late April and early May.

Several factors may play a role in cotton emergence including soil preparation, conditions at and after planting and seed quality. It is important to provide a firm, clean seedbed to protect seed from excess moisture following rainfall events. Planting at the right time is important to provide the seed with optimal germinating conditions.

Planting into soils with temperatures above 65 degrees Fahrenheit will provide optimal conditions for emergence if planted at the correct depth. Increased daytime air temperatures and nighttime lows being 60 degrees Fahrenheit or above is needed for good emergence. Planting in cool, less optimal conditions may slow emergence as well as reduce overall emergence. Lastly, planting high-quality seed is needed to reach optimal plant stands. brwilson@missouri.edu

GEORGIA | Camp Hand

By the time you read this, we have been done with county meetings for nearly a month. Meeting season is a grind, but a lot of good conversations happen before and after the meetings where we get a look into how growers think.

Of course, a common theme this winter has been, “How are we going to make this thing work?” We finally started replying, “Just gonna have to make more of it.” And at one meeting, a grower responded to that statement and said, “‘Bout twice?” Yep, gonna have to make about twice. However, the conversation more often begins with the question of where a grower can cut. It seems like most folks only think about cutting up front (seeding rates, at-plant thrips management, nematicides, PRE herbicides), so let’s stay with that trend; although I do want you to think about things you could cut (and maintain yields) during the growing season also.

Seeding rates have been a big topic of conversation for certain. I believe 25,000 to 30,000 seeds per acre is a sweet spot for Georgia growers, so there is certainly potential to cut there if you are above 30,000. However, don’t put yourself in a bad position right out the gate. Getting a stand is complicated, and multiple factors are involved including your soil type, weather before and after planting, irrigation capabilities, seed quality, and, of course, our four-legged friends (deer). There is potential to reduce inputs, but don’t put yourself in a situation where you may get the opportunity to replant.

Remember — anyone can plant cotton…but everybody can’t get a stand. As always, if you have any questions or need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local University of Georgia county Extension agent. We’re here to help! camphand@uga.edu

ALABAMA | Scott H. Graham

As a boy growing up playing golf in the summers with my dad, I often heard a common phrase: “you drive for show and putt for dough.” In other words, if you can’t finish on the green, long drives off the tee don’t matter. While there is some truth to this, it is not entirely accurate. A strong start off the tee goes a long way in setting up the hole to get a low score (easier said than done, at least for me). In the same way, getting the crop off to a good start is critical for having the yield potential we want. The cost of seed is among the greatest costs we deal with in cotton production. We need to do our best to make sure we plant each field once and get as many seeds up as possible.

The first step in achieving a good stand is proper planter set up. Auburn’s new precision ag and farm machine specialist Dr. Simer Virk has spent considerable time this spring talking about the importance of planter set up. Below are a few thoughts based on what Dr. Virk has been saying:

■ Test seed meters at expected seeding rates.

■ Seed size affects vacuum settings and singulation (test multiple varieties if seed size changes).

■ Check seed plates for condition and replace as needed.

■ Check depth settings with a block test on each row unit and note T-bar handle settings for preferred seeding depth (0.5 to 1.0 inch). Every unit may not be the same setting.

■ Inspect double disc openers, gauge wheels, seed tubes and closing wheels for proper alignment and condition.

Once the planter is ready to roll, we are waiting on good conditions to get going. We all know the conditions, 65°F at 2-inch to 4-inch soil depth for at least three days and a warm five-day forecast after planting. However, there is another important consideration: moisture. Sometimes, we have to get going a little earlier than we want to because we are chasing moisture. If planting into less-than-ideal conditions, it is important to know your seed quality (warm and cool germ numbers), the seed count per bag and expected vigor. These numbers can help guide what bags to place where.

Finally, consider cover crop (or winter vegetation) burndown prior to plant. As an entomologist, I want covers dead three weeks prior to planting. This gives insects time to either move on (adults) or starve our (immatures) and eliminate the green bridge. Of course, your reason for the cover and timing of burndown may be different from mine. Consider insect pressure and proper planter set up if planting into a green cover. Speaking of burndown, early weed management will be very important this year. With the loss of dicamba over the top, we will need to start clean and stay clean. Consider a good at-plant, soil-residual herbicide program to keep problematic weeds at bay and to reduce pressure on the limited, effective postemergence products we have.

Reach out to your local Extension agent or specialist if you ever need any help! scottg@auburn.edu

MISSISSIPPI | Brian Pieralisi

Our Extension meeting season has wrapped up for 2025, and it’s been a heavy season. Depressed markets have dominated the conversations that I’ve had with growers. Trying to pencil in a profit with decreased market prices, along with increased input prices, is daunting to say the least. On the brighter side, some fertilizer costs have come down a little bit.

With cotton, achieving a good stand can be a sore subject at times.  Dialing back seeding rates is a way to trim costs if you get a stand!  A few things to consider with reducing seeding rates would begin with the word “rates,” which means nothing in terms of plant population or density. Plant population is what you are left with. Seeding rate is what your equipment is set to deliver from the seed tube and into the soil. Seed germination percentage is going to be less than the seeding rate because not all seeds will emerge. Planting date is another important consideration. In Mississippi, early planting can be tough due to cool nights, wet soil and everything that goes along with early planting.  Having a few more seeds out there could help achieve a stronger population.

Also, as planting progresses and temperatures warm, emergence success should follow. A healthy plant population of 30,000 seedlings per acre is plenty to maximize yield. A couple of projects that we are wrapping up make me confident to use that number, and, arguably, slightly less. We have noticed slightly less competition between plants for nutrients and water as well.

As planting approaches, pay attention to soil residue, especially in a cover-cropped environment to ensure good seed-to-soil contact during planting. Moving forward in 2025, a timely burndown and solid PRE applications could carry you a long way in terms of achieving good emergence and a healthy stand. bkp4@msstate.edu

ARKANSAS | Zachary Treadway

It is March 5 as I write this, and spring seems to be on the horizon. By this point, most variety choices have been made, and a majority of seed has been booked. Here in Arkansas, a short dry spell has allowed producers to apply their burndowns and even work a little ground. I would surmise that by the time this article is published, we will be in full spring work mode. Achieving a successful burndown, followed by an effective PRE herbicide program, is key to ensuring the crop has its best chance to achieve a healthy stand as it allows young plants to emerge, unabated by weeds or volunteer crops. This also makes it easier to manage weeds later in the season. As we say in the weed science world, the only way to stay clean is to start clean.

As we move ever closer to planting, it is a good time to think about seeding rates, seed germination and healthy stands. It is good practice to make note of the germination test on your seed and adjust your seeding rate accordingly to achieve a healthy stand. Weather during planting season also plays a large role in determining the success of a cotton crop. Varieties with low cool-germ values tend to struggle with early planting, when cooler temperatures are more commonplace. Planting those varieties should be delayed until soil temperatures are consistently 70 degrees or higher. As a rule, we wait until soil temperature is 65 degrees at four inches to plant cotton, which ideally falls in mid-April here in Arkansas.

To put it in college baseball terms: when an SEC team plays a cupcake, non-conference schedule in February and early March, we don’t know if we are any good, but we’ll know if we are bad. Along those same lines, while we cannot guarantee a bumper crop based strictly on what we do in the spring, we can guarantee a struggle if we don’t make the right decisions now. Poor stands and re-plants can delay maturity and cause a decrease in yield this fall. So, now is a good time to start making those decisions to give our crop the best chance to thrive. As always, if there is anything I can do to help, please reach out. ztreadway@uada.edu

TEXAS | Ken Legé

Seed accounts for 6% to 14% of total variable costs for a cotton crop in West Texas, and one of the most often asked questions I get revolves around seeding rate: How low can I go (…and get away with it!)? We can achieve good yields with scarily low plant populations, but it is rare and highly dependent on knowing the seed quality of the lot(s) you have purchased, planting when conditions are optimal (which happens rarely in West Texas due to our erratic weather patterns) and when fields have been properly prepared.

High-quality seed is key to establishing a uniform stand of cotton — uniform in spacing and uniform in plant age is the goal, regardless of the desired plant population. Planting seed will have a tag that reads “80% germination,” which reflects the minimum standard required by state and federal seed laws; however, warm germ will most likely be higher.

Additionally, the more important seed quality information to be aware of is the cool germination percentage, which provides a better assessment of seed vigor and a better prediction of field emergence under field conditions. While not required by state or federal seed laws, the industry standard for cool germ is 60%. Combining the warm and cool germ percentages creates the Cool-Warm Vigor Index, which is a very informative guide for the grower regarding seed quality. For example, adding an 80% warm and 60% cool germ equates to a 140 CWVI, which is a very good minimum standard for planting seed, and gives the growers lots of options on when and in what conditions to plant that seed.

If the CWVI is less than 140, the grower should either increase seeding rate or plant under more optimal conditions to compensate for the lower quality. This may be necessary for new or limited-supply varieties that is a grower’s favorite. How do you get this actual germination percentage data? Simple: call or text your seed company representative or ag retailer with the lot number.

Soil conditions at planting are also important for proper germination. Good contact between soil particles and seed is necessary for the imbibition to take place to initiate the germination process.  Proper adjustment of planters to ensure optimum, but not excessive, pressure is important. A well-prepared seed bed, void of large clods and with good moisture, plays an important role in achieving good soil-to-seed contact as well. Seeding depth greatly affects how quickly the seedling will emerge.

Particularly in dryland scenarios, it is important to determine at what depth adequate moisture is present to support seed germination. Uniformity of seeding depth down the row is important for achieving a uniform stand of cotton; an optimum stand of cotton is one where seedlings across the field emerge within a few hours of one another. Typically, planter speed and proper adjustment of seeding depth among row units are the factors most often affecting the uniformity of emergence across the field.

Cotton is very sensitive to cool temperatures. Since most West Texas growers have to wait on a “planting rain” to plant cottonseed, there are times they are forced to plant when moisture is available, but perhaps under suboptimal temperatures. Chilling injury can result when temperatures at seed depth are below 50°F during imbibition, so always monitor soil temperature (everyone should have and use a soil thermometer)!

A good rule of thumb is that the soil temperature at seeding depth will normally be within 1°F at dawn (which typically is the low temperature for a 24-hour period). Tracking the forecasted heat units for the next five days following a proposed planting date provides a useful guide to planting. Ideally, at least 26 or more DD60s should accumulate in the next five days to achieve a good stand; 50 or more is even better. We are very fortunate to have the West Texas Mesonet (https://www.mesonet.ttu.edu/) that provides air temperature and soil temperatures at most locations; the mobile app calculates DD60s as well.

“When should I plant?” is likely the second-most asked question I get. Data from the past few years from multiple sources indicate that later plantings (i.e., early June) Lubbock-southward in the southern High Plains have resulted in higher yields and equal fiber quality compared to earlier planting (i.e., mid-late May). Keep in mind that the past three years have been much warmer than average, especially in the fall when we need heat units to fully mature the crop to realize yield potential and micronaire development. Planting date trends north of Lubbock and into the Panhandle area of Texas are less clear. The best approach is to carefully evaluate predicted air and soil temperatures when you receive a planting rain, and gauging that against when the forecast is showing the next chance of a planting rain.

Achieving a good stand of cotton in West Texas is always a challenging task, but growers can prepare by having all the information and tools, most of which are of no cost, to make the best decision when fields receive a planting rain. As with most things in West Texas, moisture is key for stand establishment. ken.lege@ag.tamu.edu

TEXAS | Ben McKnight

Hopefully more precipitation has accumulated across Texas by the time you are reading this in April. As I write this on March 5, approximately 80% of Texas is either abnormally dry or in some form of drought conditions. The Lower Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend regions typically begin planting cotton in March following the planting of grain crops, and more moisture would greatly help dryland producers in these regions moving into April.

Aside from adequate soil moisture, soil temperature is the other major driving force for obtaining a successful cotton plant stand. The absolute minimum soil temperature for planting cotton is 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and soil temperatures greater than this will further speed up cotton emergence. In the past, we’ve often had to plant variety trials in marginal conditions when soil temperatures hovered just above 60 degrees. If good-quality seed was planted in these conditions, we often would begin to see emergence beginning around seven to eight days later, if the cool conditions remained. Our variety trials planted into soil temperatures ranging from 65 to 70 degrees greatly sped up germination and emergence, and we typically see good, more uniform emergence by day five following planting in warmer soil temperatures.

If conditions are marginal for planting cotton, it is a good idea to start with your best quality seed as indicated by warm and cool germination percentages that you can obtain from seed company representatives or distributors for your specific seed lot. Additionally, cool early season temperatures can slow down cotton growth making the young plants more vulnerable to early season pests, including thrips. If you are growing a non-ThryvOn variety, insecticide seed treatments can provide protection against thrips until cotton typically reaches the two true-leaf growth stage. bmcknight@tamu.edu