Cotton Response to Source and Timing of Nitrogen Fertilization on a Sandy Coastal Plain Soil

Abstract

A three‐year field study was conducted to evaluate cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) response to the source and timing of nitrogen (N) on an irrigated coastal plain soil (Lucy loamy sand; Arenic Kandiudults) in south Alabama. Cotton acreage in this region has increased in the past ten years and there was a need for current data describing cotton response to N fertilization. Treatments included N sources, timing of N application (ammonium nitrate), split applications of N (ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate), and a no‐N check. Nitrogen sources applied preplant included: (i) ammonium nitrate (34‐0‐0); (ii) ammonium sulfate (21‐0‐0‐24.2); (iii) urea (46‐0‐0); (iv) urea–ammonium nitrate solution (UAN; 32‐0‐0); (v) UAN + ammonium thiosulfate (28‐0‐0‐5). Non‐sulfur sources were applied with and without additional sulfur (S). Times of application were preplant, first true leaf, first square, and first bloom. Two treatments received split applications of N as a 50:50 mixture of ammonium sulfate with urea or ammonium nitrate. Supplemental applications of potassium (K) were evaluated by applying ammonium sulfate in combination with 56 kg K/ha. Yield data showed some minor differences among sources, but overall the results of this three‐year study show that there were no superior N sources. For ammonium nitrate, preplant applications of N were sufficient in two out of three years. Split applications of ammonium nitrate did not improve yields as compared to preplant N. Applying ammonium sulfate with supplemental K or as a 50:50 mixture with ammonium nitrate or urea did not improve yields as compared to ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate applied alone. Lint quality was not affected by N fertility treatments.