By Ken Legé, Texas A&M AgriLife Cotton Extension Specialist for the Lubbock Center
What a difference a week makes! Most, but not all, of the region has received rainfall; in some cases, the amounts were quite significant. And starting today, we are experiencing a warming trend, which in the southerly locations is producing some extreme heat for this time of year accompanied by windy conditions. Be aware of the heat and wind and its ability to dry out seed zones very quickly. Seeding depth decisions will be important to guard against losing moisture needed for germination.
While the daytime highs will be warm, in some locations nighttime lows will still be in the suboptimal range. That said, if you have moisture in west Texas with these temperatures, I recommend planting and adjust seeding depth and seeding rates accordingly. Soil temperatures are in the low to mid-60s in the panhandle and mid-60s to mid-70s in the southern high plains. Even after the cooling trend predicted to arrive early next week, those somewhat warm soil temperatures will help buffer against dangerously low soil temperatures at seed depth. However, rely on your soil thermometers to help make planting decisions, as each individual field is unique in its ability to retain or absorb heat.
Many growers will decide to plant dryland first, since the soil moisture is favorable. However, others will still wait for later planting for dryland and opt to plant their irrigated acres now to allow more time for full crop maturity in the fall. There is no correct blanket recommendation for this; use the weather forecast, your soil temperatures, and your operation’s logistics to make the best decision for your farm.
Be safe while planting and moving equipment on the roads.
To download the PDF version of this chart, click the image above.
To download the PDF version of this chart, click the image above.