Nitrogen Management in Irrigated Cotton

	impact
		The University of Arizona
of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
	Competitive Agricultural Systems in Global Economy Nitrogen Management in Irrigated Cotton Issue The traditional approach to nitrogen management in irrigated cotton has been to push for maximum high yields by applying large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. Historically, in many parts of Arizona, nitrogen application rates have exceeded 200 pounds per acre per season. Although yields may increase, there are serious drawbacks to this practice. Over the last 10-15 years the luxuriant vegetative growth resulting from these high nitrogen applications has harbored damaging insect populations and diseases in Arizona’s cotton fields. Studies during the same period have shown that aggressive nitrogen fertilizer application can actually increase the loss of nitrogen from the soil. In the past, nitrogen fertilizer has been relatively inexpensive for southwest desert growers, but early in 2001 those costs rose approximately 30 percent. What has been done? To help Arizona cotton growers reduce their reliance on high nitrogen applications in their fields, University of Arizona researchers studied and documented nitrogen uptake patterns and requirements in the crop. UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences researchers then designed nitrogen management guidelines and recommendations that pinpointed the best times to apply nitrogen in the proper amounts. Over the last 12 years this comprehensive nitrogen management strategy has been implemented in a statewide extension education plan for cotton growers that includes bulletins, reports, articles and grower meetings. Impact The cost of cotton production has been high during the last several years, but the market price has been low. UA demonstration projects on cooperating cotton farms have realized yields equivalent to commercial yields, using less nitrogen input, which has saved approximately $30 per acre in nitrogen application costs. If adopted statewide, the annual savings, at February 2001 nitrogen prices, would be about $15-$20 per acre. If 200,000 acres of the total cotton acreage in Arizona were affected, this would equate to $3 to $4 million in savings to the growers. Growers would be using approximately 150 pounds per acre, compared to a more common rate of about 200 pounds per acre, a 25 percent reduction. *Funding* Water Quality Program, national Cooperative Extension Hatch Act Smith-Lever Arizona Cotton Growers Association; Cotton Incorporated *Contact* Jeff Silvertooth, professor and head Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science 429 Shantz Bldg, #38 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721 Tel.: (520) 621-7228, FAX: (520) 621-1647 Email: silver@ag.arizona.edu Return to the Title Page Return to the Table of Contents