Released: March 09, 2001


Kansas Cotton Data Available

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Cotton acreage in Kansas has grown over the past several years, and Kansas State University has just released information that may help growers and prospective growers with spring planting decisions.

The 2000 Cotton Variety Performance Test data is available on-line at http://www.ksu.edu/kscpt/ and at K-State Research and Extension offices throughout the state.

"It was a pretty stressful year, and despite cotton's ability to handle high temperatures better than other row crops like corn and soybeans, the 100-degree days and no rain in August took its toll on yields," said Scott Staggenborg, Extension crops and soils specialist for northeast Kansas.

At 40,000 acres of upland cotton planted in 2000, Kansas is still a small player – well behind leader Texas at 6.4 million acres. But with poor returns on more traditional crops in recent years, farmers are looking for alternatives. As a result, cotton acreage in Kansas has jumped over the past five years, from 3,800 in 1995; to 16,500 in 1998; and up to 40,000 acres in 2000.

Most of the cotton is grown in the southern part of the state.

"As with other summer crops planted in south central Kansas in 2000, earlier-planted cotton generally yielded better and produced better quality fiber than cotton planted at ‘traditional’ dates," said Stu Duncan, Extension crops and soils specialist for south central Kansas. "Cotton typically finishes and yields well when planted from May10 to June 5 in south central Kansas. However, the soil thermometer and projected five- to seven-day weather forecast, rather than the calendar, should be used when determining when to plant cotton. Soil temperature should be a minimum of 60 F between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and a forecast calling for warm temperatures and sunny days for the next four to five days would be ideal."

In late April and early May 2000, favorable soil temperatures and sunny, warm conditions existed, and many cooperators successfully planted their cotton crop, he said.

In a multi-site date of planting study, cotton planted the first week of May last year yielded in excess of one bale of lint per acre, the data showed. Cotton planted in the middle of the traditional planting window yielded at above breakeven levels, and cotton planted at the end of the traditional window did not produce enough lint to cover production costs. In addition, lint quality deteriorated with delayed planting.

"Early boll set was the best I’ve seen in four years of working with cotton in Kansas. But high temperatures and drought conditions in August cut yields and reduced fiber quality, particularly fiber length and strength. Also, important fruiting sites that normally make up a big part of our yields aborted bolls because of adverse environmental conditions," Duncan added.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Mary Lou Peter, Communications Specialist
mlpeter@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News