In the past, Virginia cotton farmers were happy if they made two bales per acre on cotton. Today, if they aren’t making three bales per acre, they’re unhappy. 

Virginia cotton farmers are pushing to make more than 3.5 bales per acre, which Virginia Tech Extension Cotton Specialist Hunter Frame says can be achieved if a cotton farmer is an active manager. 

In a presentation to the North Carolina Agricultural Consultants Association 2023 fall conference at the Hampton Inn Crabtree in Raleigh Dec. 7, Frame highlighted what it takes to achieve 3.5 bales per acre cotton yields: 

In short, Frame says the goal is to increase the numbers of bolls you are making per acre which requires a healthy, robust cotton plant. You need to look for weight per boll which will change depending on where the boll is on that cotton plant. The next yield component is bolls per plant while the third yield component is plants per acre. 

“Most of our Virgina guys are planting around three seeds per row foot and shooting for a final plant population of a little over two seeds per row foot because they know some of the seeds won’t make it,” Frame said.  

Frame emphasized that soils are not created equal. There are soils where four bales per acre is not realistic. Soil pH needs to be between 6.0 to 6.5. Any soil pH below 5.8 could affect nutrient availability and limit yields.  

“Nitrogen is most critical. A split application will be needed. Twenty to 40 pounds applied at planting followed by 80 to 100 pounds at side dress. A total of 120 pounds of nitrogen per acre has found to be optimal,” he said. 

Following nitrogen, Frame said potassium and sulfur are the most important macronutrients while boron is the most limiting micronutrient. As you increase your yields to 3.5 bales or four bales per acre or more, the cotton plant will be taking up more nutrients. 

“When we make high yields, you look at the nutrient uptake. In order to make more yield, you have to feed the plant. Use nitrogen more efficiently. You’re not necessarily applying more nitrogen, you’re ensuring the plant takes up more nitrogen. The cotton plant needs to be more efficient in nitrogen uptake,” Frame said.