Plant Population Evaluation/Management for Cotton
One of the most critical, and often most difficult, steps for the production of any crop is that of stand establishment. When considering a given stand and its condition, directly evaluating plant populations in the field can be very helpful. Cotton fortunately, has a strong capacity to adjust to a broad range in plant populations, with general ranges of 20,000 to 70,000 plants per acre (ppa), and optimal ranges described as about 25,000 to 50,000 ppa. These ranges in final plant population apply to both Upland and Pima in Arizona, and for row spacings of 30 to 40 inches. Unique field conditions or specific varieties may require higher or lower plant populations, which are often best determined by grower experience.
Reviewed 06/2015. Originally published 02/2001
- population
- cotton