COTTON HARVEST AID TRIALS

Dryland Cotton, 250-400 lbs Yield Potential, Rating Results 10 Days Following Application
Location: Duane Cookston Farm, Hwy 114 2 mi. East of Whiteface

¹ The ratings of percent green, dessication, and defoliation are equal to 100% for a treatment.
² Regrowth: 0 = no regrowth, 10 = completely regrown, 4 is still harvestable.
³ NIS = 90% Non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% v/v (1 qrt per 100 gal mix)
⁴ COC = Crop oil concentrate at 1.0% v/v (1 gal per 100 gal mix)

Irrigated Cotton, 600-700 lbs Yield Potential, Rating Results 10 Days Following Application
Location: Randy Coleman Farm, FM 1169 .25 mi. West of FM 3304, SW of Morton

¹ The ratings of percent green, dessication, and defoliation are equal to 100% for a treatment.
² Regrowth: 0 = no regrowth, 10 = completely regrown, 4 is still harvestable.
³ NIS = 90% Non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% v/v (1 qrt per 100 gal mix)
⁴ COC = Crop oil concentrate at 1.0% v/v (1 gal per 100 gal mix)

Comments: Dryland acres can be difficult to prepare for harvest. This is generally due to lower boll load which has not sucked the life out of the plant, and particularly after recent rains. This has caused regrowth potential to be high in many dryland acres. This fact makes higher rates necessary and the producer must be prepared to gather the crop the moment it is ready. Any delay gives time for more regrowth.

We are seeing more acres of long-season picker type varieties. These do not hold in the burr for very long after the boll opens. So keep a close watch on those fields. You may want to harvest these first.

When looking at the data in the previous tables you may want to concentrate on the defoliation column. The higher this number is of course the less total leaf remaining on the plant. What leaves are left on the plant you would prefer that they be dead leaves - so then look at the percent dessication column. A high green leaf and also a regrowth value are undesirable. The old adage of "you get what you pay for" generally holds true for harvest aids. We can make lower costing products work at times as is obvious with some of the Cyclone Max (paraquat) treatments above. However, if you make a mistake and do not achieve the desired results, such as defoliation with paraquat, then you have no choice but to go with a second dessicating application.

Call if you have questions. I will have more test plots sprayed over the next couple of weeks.

West Plains IPM Update is a publication of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service IPM Program in Hockley and Cochran Counties. Editor: Kerry Siders Production: Patty Castaneda

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