Potential Value of Irrigation to Cotton Producers in North Carolina and the Upper Southeast

Though North Carolina's cotton growing season may provide enough total rain to satisfy the crops water requirement, it is the distribution of this rain throughout the growing season that can limit the crops production and yield. Irrigation could be used in North Carolina cotton to supplement rainfall and protect the crop during those inevitable times during the growing season, when there is not enough water for the plant. 

            Currently in the second year, this study will help to further our knowledge of the benefits of irrigation of cotton in North Carolina using three planting dates.  This study is also looking at the effect of irrigation on varieties with differing maturities as well as cotton planted at different times.  These factors can offer insight into how the timing of irrigation or rainfall plays into the development of the cotton plant.

            Though few differences were observed in 2014 due to well-timed rains during the growing season, differences in growth and biomass were observed during the dry growing season of 2015.  Yield data from 2015 is not available at this time as plots have not been harvested.