In the race against the clock to harvest the maturing High Plains cotton crop, harvest-aid chemicals can play an important role, says a cotton agronomist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. With some three million acres around Lubbock planted to the crop, that potential for loss is significant, he said. Proper use will result in earlier harvest, preservation of fiber quality and fewer seed quality reductions due to field exposure. But what works best one season isn't necessarily the best for the next season, he cautioned.
Several factors affect the performance of harvest-aid chemicals.
It also covers points to consider in selecting and applying the chemicals, harvesting the fields and preventing lint contamination, and contains a table to help in the decisions. Harvest-aid chemicals can't increase the rate of fiber development. Only additional good growing weather, including open skies and adequate heat units combined with functional leaves, can mature cotton bolls.