Cotton Judging Contest Exam 2022

Cotton Plant Health and Management

• Potassium deficiency leads to short stature and small, light green leaves in cotton plants.
• Excessive nitrogen fertilization causes excessive vegetative growth, reduced defoliation, and delayed boll maturity.
• Soil salinity levels greater than 9.6 ds/m negatively impact cotton yield.
• Organic manures supply less nitrogen compared to chemical fertilizers.
• Cotton roots can extend to depths of 6 feet or more, enhancing nutrient uptake.

Planting and Growth Conditions

• Optimal soil temperature for cotton germination is 65°F and below 55°F causes chilling injury.
• Cotton plants should have 6-8% moisture for effective ginning.
• Last recommended planting date in SJV is around April 15.
• A population of 60,000 plants per acre is ideal for tall and vigorous cotton plants.

Pests and Diseases

• Systemic insecticides as seed treatments are effective for integrated pest management.
• Pythium causes large lesions on cotton hypocotyls; nitrogen deficiency symptoms first appear on new leaves.
• Common insects causing damage include bollworms and thrips, with Lygus being highly damaging to yields.
• “Sticky” cotton is associated with Lygus insects.

Crop Management Practices

• Recommended preirrigation date for sandy loam soil is around March 1.
• Effective defoliation is promoted by low petiole nitrogen levels, uniformly mature plants, and daytime temperatures above 80°F.
• Candelabra plant, or crazy cotton, arises from Lygus damage.
• Good seed quality is indicated by a germination percentage combining cool and warm germ above 150.

Agronomic Data Categories

• The first flowering branch of pima cotton typically appears on the 12th to 13th node of the main stem.
• GDD (Growing Degree Days) forecast of 16-20 units after planting is ideal for establishing stands.
• Between first square and open white bloom, cotton requires about 500 GDDs.
• Cotton taproots grow approximately 2 inches per day during square initiation.

Miscellaneous Data

• Average water use for cotton is similar in July and August.
• Optimum moisture level for long-term storage of cotton is less than 10%.
• Each section of land contains 640 acres.
• The scientific name for Pima cotton is Gossypium barbadense.

Important Notes

• Calcot is recognized as California’s oldest grower-owned cotton marketing cooperative.

Participate in the 65th Annual Cotton Judging Contest with this written examination. This quiz is designed for teams from California State University, Fresno, and focuses on evaluating knowledge in plant science and cotton judging skills. Test your expertise in agriculture and understanding of cotton varieties.