“Crust Busting”
I don’t need to tell folks how dry it is in much of the cotton growing areas of North Carolina. Small amounts of rain in some areas may have allowed some cotton seed to imbibe water and initiate germination. Others have “dusted” in cotton, waiting for a rain to bring it up. We may get into soil crusting problems especially on the sandier soils which tend to me lighter colored in both situations.
Most folks wait too long before deciding to break a crust. If you wait past 3-4 days past germination (not necessarily planting), you have probably waited too long. If a hard crust is evident when the seed sprout is approaching one inch long, you should break the crust quickly. You only have one or two days depending on soil temperature. The germination process can move so fast in warm soils that the root will grow enough to anchor the seedling between the time you make the decision and the time you actually get into the field. Otherwise, the seedling will spend too much energy while pushing against the crust trying to emerge. This is evidenced by a swelling of the stem below the cotyledons.
Crust busting is best accomplished by running a rotary hoe just deep enough to break the crust completely. No more than 10-20 percent of the seedlings should be completely uprooted or broken off. Pull seedlings gently to determine if they are anchored enough to survive. Crust busting can also be accomplished with a rolling cultivator set with the gangs turned to run straight down the row. Preferably, the gangs should be moved in so that one runs on each side of the row with about a four inch gap.
2007 - Carolina Cotton Notes
