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Plant mapping key to cotton crop successOklahoma Researchers with Oklahoma State University's Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources are encouraging cotton producers to use plant mapping, a management tool that could make a big difference in yields and profit. "Plant mapping is essentially a guide for evaluating the crop's health anytime during the production season," said Shane Osborne of the division's Southwest Research and Extension Center in Altus. By taking regular measurements of the crop and comparing them to growth guidelines, a producer can know the exact status of the crop, whether it is growing well or under stress from insects, disease or drought. "Most importantly, by knowing that status, a producer can make management decisions in a proactive rather than reactive fashion," Osborne said. "It can make all the difference between success and disappointment at harvest time." Plant mapping for cotton takes advantage of the crop's approximate growth timeline. By knowing how the plant grows and when it should be at any given stage of maturity, producers can easily determine if the plant is under stress, when to apply additional fertilizer or plant growth regulators, when to time herbicide and insecticide applications, how to identify fruiting problems and how to manage irrigation. The key is the producer's commitment to checking the crop on a regular basis. While the process can seem complicated at first, Osborne said that it can be learned easily. "Once you learn the basics, the process of producing an excellent crop becomes a bint easier," he said. "It makes managing for optimum production easier because you eliminate virtually all of the guess work." Producers interested in plant mapping can access an illustrated presentation on the management at www.ntokcotton.org. Additional information can be found on the center's Web site at www.osu.altus.ok.us. 5/19/08 Date: 5/15/08
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