Weekly in-season Updates
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INFORMATION |
June 20, 2005 Talkin’ Cotton
Recent thunderstorms accompanied by high winds continue to cause problems in our cotton. The plants almost recover from one storm when another one hits. This early stress has caused stunted plants and a delay in squaring. Cotton planted in early May (before May 10) should already have two squares in the terminal of the plant. Cotton planted May 15 should have the first square by now. Most varieties of cotton should have the first square on the sixth true leaf, but I have been looking at eight leaf cotton that is just now beginning to show the first square. Late fruiting makes it especially important to protect this first fruit. Fleahoppers are normally present in the fields at squaring and can often damage the forming squares. Most Oklahoma cotton will benefit from control of these pests. Contact Dr. Miles Karner (580-482-2120) or access his newsletter at our website at ntokcotton.org for thresholds, treatments, and rates for control. Another problem we have been observing this week is widespread damage by 2,4-D herbicide. Cotton is very sensitive to drift rates of 2,4-D. Under good growing conditions and light damage, cotton will often recover without much yield damage, but the damage I have seen on stressed cotton will likely continue to cause a delay in fruiting resulting in yield loss. If you have damage, it is important that you fill out a pesticide complaint statement for Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. These forms are available at your local gin or can be obtained by calling ODA at 405-521-3864.
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