Precision Ag Applications in Cotton Production in

the High plains

Cameron C. McAnally

History of Cotton in The High Plains

Cotton has been in production since the early 1900s, but has recently increased in the area because cotton is more drought tolerant and requires less water than corn (.75 acre feet vs. 1.5 acre feet). At todays prices cotton can also provide for a higher profit, though risk can be greater.

Total cotton harvested acres in Carson county has increased from 1,000 acres in 2000 to 22,700 acres in 2004 (USDA, 2006).

Cropping SystemsIrrigated- min till is typical for a corn cotton or continuous cotton rotation because of the large amounts of residue, and compacted soil from harvesting.

Dryland- no till helps to preserve ground moisture and provide cover.

Strip Till is gaining popularity in both irrigated and dryland cotton because of its combination of advantages from min till and no till.

Residue management is very important-soil moisture-soil temperature-seedling protection from wind and heavy rain-soil born disease

PlantingWith such delicate seedlings planting is a very important production step.

Planter accessories for better cotton stands:-Trash cleaners -Specialty closing-Scalloped single coulters

True Count Clutches

http://www.trimble.com/agriculture/media/trucount/AirClutch.swf

Integrated GPS displays

Combines Multiple MonitorsMakes VRT easier

Variable Rate Growth Regulator Application

Growth RegulatorsPix- Mepiquat ChlorideStance – Mepiquat with Cyclanilide

Irrigation

-Over watering cotton will increase growth, and slow square production.-Much research has been in the way of VR irrigation, but very little has been put into production.-Typically pivot and row water are the methods of choice but drip tape is gaining popularity.

Benefits of Drip Irrigation in cotton• Reduces

over/under watering.

• Helps to keep soil temps up.

• More precise chemigation placement.

• Conserves ground water.

Harvesting

Traditional Harvesting • Cotton is defoliated in September, harvesting begins in October.• Stripper uses brushes in the row units to remove all lint and

foliage from plant.• Cleaning saws inside stripper remove unwanted burs and some

stems.• Stripper dumps basket into boll buggy which then transports

cotton to module builders.• Modules are built in locations with easy access for trucks from

the gin to pick up.• Modules are tarpped to lessen crop loss in storage and

transport.

Row Trak- automated guidance that fallows stalks to guide stripper through field.

Agriplan Cotton Yield Monitor -Provides yield data to producers that can be manipulated into VRT, and other precision farming techniques. -Technology is still fairly new, and beginning to be more widely adopted in strippers.-Uses a modified Palm Pilot, and optical sensors in cleaning chute to estimate yeild.-One downfall is the need for constant calibration.

Advances in harvester design• On board module building Allows for better

yield calculation by scales interfaced with the on board GPS and traditional mass flow monitors

• Less machinery in the fields means less operation expenses.

• Less crop loss in transport• Eliminates the need to pay some one to

tarp the module.

Questions?