An Overview of Southeastern Production

The bulk of Cotton Production in the US takes place in the humid south. So, we thought it was important write about Fertilizer for cotton production in the South. Here in Alabama, we have hot humid summers. You can practically go swimming in the atmosphere in August! It’s a similar story over in Georgia, a state that dwarfs Alabama’s production numbers by 1.7 million bales annually.

However, Texas is the reigning champion of cotton production with over five million bales a year. Leave it to Texas to show everyone else up! In total, the US produces some 17 million bales a year. This makes us the third largest producer of cotton globally. Only China and India grow more in an average year. Typically, the Upland variety is chosen for US production with an average price of $.71 per pound reported in 2012. While we might lag in production, America is the overall king of cotton exports. We ship out some 12 million bales each year to clothe the world. Cotton is a very lucrative crop that is well suited to southern climates.

Ideal Growing Conditions for Cotton

What are some of the ideal conditions for growth? First, cotton prefers deep, well drained soils. The land should be rich with organic matter. Lighting should be ample with mostly dry weather. At least 20 inches of rain is needed between germination and boll. Additionally, an ideal temperature range is 64-86 degrees. It can take up to 225 days to reach harvest. Because of this, the south is an ideal location for production. We have such a long period between frosts making the south an ideal environment.

Nutrient Requirements

When you select a fertilization plan for cotton, you need to take the plant’s unique requirements into account. Different nutrients needs exist at different stages of growth.

Finding the ideal fertilizer for cotton production in the South can be a challenge. We firmly believe in the importance of building the soil for long-term profitability. Select a fertilizer that increases carbon. Most chemical fertilizers do the opposite by killing off bacteria in the soil. Salt is a byproduct of production that kills soil over time. Therefore, you end up using more and more fertilizer each year. Instead select a natural product that fits production needs at each stage of development. You will save money in the long run.

Cotton is actually a perennial. In native environments it continually sets fruit. With cotton, improper application of fertilizer can reduce yields. Actual nutrients per acre required at germination are 10-2-7. Do not confuse this with the numbers on the bag! This is a total requirement in pounds per acre. We will continue to list this number for each phase of the plants growth cycle below. Later on, I will explain conversion so that you know application rates. Moving on to early square, you need 20-5-30. Next, at early boll 56-23-46 is the magic number. Finally, you need 48-31-37 at maturity.

Now for Some Math

Keep in mind that these numbers are for chemical fertilizer application. Let’s continue by converting these numbers to application rates. Assume we have access to bags of 18-46-0 and 34-0-0. Now, for the sake of simplicity, let’s assume we need 60-60-0 in actual pounds per acre. I want to solve for P first. Since it has some nitrogen in the bag, we need to account for that. In our example we have 18-46-0. Each pound of 18-46-0 contains 46% phosphate and 18% nitrogen. To get us to 60 pounds phosphate per acre, divide the 60 lbs. by 0.46 available. This brings us to a requirement of 130 lbs. of 18-46-0 for 60 pounds of available phosphate.

Next, we need to solve for N. In our 130 lbs. of 18-46-0, we have 18 percent nitrogen. So, 130 X 0.18 provides us 23 lbs. of actual N. Now we subtract 23 lbs. of N from our total recommendation of 60 lbs. This leaves us with a 37 lbs. deficit. Using 34-0-0, we have to divide 37 lbs. by 0.34 available. Now we need to purchase 109 lbs of 34-0-0. This gives us 37 lbs. of N. In total a  60-60-0 per acre requirement can be met with 130 lbs. of 18-46-0 plus 109 lbs. of 34-0-0. Spread this blend at 239 lbs. per acre. That’s a lot of fertilizer! Let me ask you, do you think there is a more efficient way to do things? If you said yes, jump to the head of the class. Read on!

Cost Effective Cotton Fertilizer

What if I told you that you’re spending way too much money on bagged fertilizer? Would you believe me? Are you willing to at least hear me out? Read on!

Did you know that only 7-8% of the N-P-K in your chemical fertilizer is used by the plants? That’s why you need over 200 lbs. per acre. Seems like a lot of waste, huh? Maybe traditional solutions aren’t the best fertilizer for cotton production in the South? Furthermore, a large portion of this fertility simply escapes your property due to run off. What if we could use a more concentrated product that locks fertility into the soil? AGGRAND 4-3-3 Natural Fertilizer may have really low N-P-K numbers. However, in this case the numbers only tell half the story. Our natural fertilizers are much more bioavailable by percentage. Additionally, the efficiency increases by up to 20 fold when we use a foliar spray application. In fact, we can use as little as 3.25 gallons of fertilizer mixed in with 100 gallons of water to treat an acre. Read on to see why AGGRAND is a superior fertilizer for cotton production in the South.

Our Recommended Foliar Application Rate

Combine a gallon of our Natural Fertilizer, 2 gallons of our Natural Bonemeal, and 1 quart of our Natural Kelp and Sulfate of Potash with 100 gallons of water. At 4-6” in height, apply this mixture as a fine mist. You should use ample solution to thoroughly cover leaves. If more nitrogen is needed at pre-bloom, apply 1 gallon AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer, 2 gallons AGGRAND Liquid Bonemeal, 1 quart AGGRAND Kelp and Sulfate of Potash and 100 gallons of water. In case you need less Nitrogen at pre-bloom, you can apply 2-3 gallons AGGRAND Liquid Bonemeal, 1 quart Kelp and Sulfate of Potash and 75 gallons of water. If irrigation is available, foliar applications can be applied through the irrigation system. It doesn’t matter what system you use. A center pivot, wheeled, gun, or drip system will all work well.

Confused as to why we aren’t more specific? This is a general recommendation that assumes average soil quality. We want to help you get more specific. That’s why I highly recommend working with us to get a soil analysis for specific needs. You might need much more than this due to years or decades of chemical fertilizer use. Such conditions require more fertilizer due to the loss of soil life. It is estimated that an acre of healthy earthworms can create 700 lbs. of worm castings each day! When you switch to natural fertilizer, you bring life to the soil. Eventually, you attract earthworms and other beneficial animals who feed off the bacteria in the soil. Thus, your need for fertilizer decreases with subsequent seasons, provided you have good erosion control.

AGGRAND: The Low-Cost Fertilizer for Cotton Production in the South

So, let’s assume a possible worst-case scenario and compare costs. Let’s say that after a soil analysis, our manufacturer recommends double the standard rates. That would be 2 gallons 4-3-3, 4 gallons Bonemeal, and 1/2 gallon Kelp and Sulfate of Potash. Now, I am going to assume that you like to buy in bulk and save. Right? So, I am making my calculations based on the cost of our 275 gallon totes. At this price point, we have $56.57 as the cost per acre for 4-3-3. Then we have 4 gallons of bonemeal which costs us $95.84. Finally, we need a half gallon of 0-0-8 at $18.58. These are the prices at the time of writing this article. So, our total cost per acre with AGGRAND is $170.99 total.

Chemical Fertilizers: Costly and Bad for the Farm

This is where I prove to you the value of converting to natural fertilizer. I’m about to convince you that AGGRAND is an ideal fertilizer for cotton production in the South. Are you ready to hear these numbers? At the time of this writing, I found chemical fertilizer at $13.85 for 50 lbs. of 21-0-0. For 0-46-0 it costs $22.50 for 50 lbs. Finally, we found a 50 lbs. bag of 0-0-50 for $30. Using our formula we get 10.5 lbs. Nitrogen, 23 lbs. phosphorus, and 25 lbs. potassium for $66.35. We need 56-23-46 usable pounds per acre at early boll. So, for N we need to spend $13.85 X 5 for $69.25 per acre. Next, we need $22.50 for our P. Finally, we must purchase 100 lbs of 0-0-50 for $60. This brings our TOTAL COST FOR CHEMICAL FERTILIZER to $151.75.

Wait, You Told Me Your Fertilizer Was Cheaper?

That’s absolutely right, and I stand by that claim for two reasons. First, the price I quoted above was retail. If you’re buying 275 gallons of fertilizer at a time, you likely qualify for our commercial account. This gives you a discount of 2-10% based on your total purchase volume. If you’re buying 275 gallon totes, chances are you will max out your discount each season. So, take $17 off your cost per acre and converting to natural fertilizer “cost” you $2.24 per acre in the first year. Second, you have to factor in the difference between chemicals and natural fertilizer. You use more of the former and LESS of the latter each year.

Our example above is just a year 1 number. It’s based off the assumption that you apply DOUBLE the recommended amount of AGGRAND per acre. Remember when I doubled our manufacturer’s numbers above? I also told you that we build soil life with natural fertilizers. The organisms we encourage break down inorganic minerals and unlock them for plants. So, in subsequent seasons you will do more soil testing. Eventually, you get below our recommended numbers which only cost about $75 or less per acre! You just saved about $75 per acre, per year. Are these numbers starting to make the case for natural fertilizer in your mind? Let us help you switch over now.

Getting Started with AGGRAND

I think AGGRAND makes an outstanding Fertilizer for Cotton Production in the South. I hope that at this point, you are convinced of the value in our product. If you want help getting started, then the first step is to reach out to me for expert analysis. You can either call or e-mail me to get started. Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call me directly at 205-636-8612. I can help you get your soil analysis done, so we can talk specific numbers. We will stay in touch each season, and adjust your application rates based on subsequent tests. I’m here to help you succeed and grow a healthier crop each year. You need a great fertilizer for cotton production in the South, and AGGRAND is my personal recommendation. Let us help you save money.