Soil Fertility Management Strategies Researched for Maximizing Cotton Yield in Bulloch County, GA

Bulloch County planted 48,073 acres to cotton in 2017 and had a cotton farm gate value of $34,839,147 in 2016. In order for growers to make budgets meet they must achieve high yields. The question has become can they apply more fertilizer, especially nitrogen and potassium to make higher yields. Currently, UGA fertilizer recommendations by yield goal peak at three bale cotton. Georgia growers want to know what fertilizer rates to use for up to four bale cotton. The combination of new cotton varieties, higher production costs, lower market prices, recent farm bill changes, etc. has applied more pressure on cotton farmers attaining high yields to be profitable. Cotton producers in Bulloch County battle the same fertility issues as do growers across the state.