RALEIGH — We have made a few changes to the chart below to better define planting conditions. In addition, we cap DD60’s at a maximum value of 10 for each day. If you are computing DD60 accumulation on your own and a day is predicted to have 15 DD60’s, only use 10 for that day.
Relationship Between Predicted DD-60s and Planting Conditions. | |
Predicted DD-60 accumulation for five days following planting | Planting conditions
|
10 or fewer | Very poor |
11 to 15 | Marginal |
16 to 25 | Adequate |
26 to 35 | Good |
36-49 | Very good |
50 | Excellent |
Avoid planting cotton if the low temperature is predicted to be below 50°F for either of the two nights following planting or predicted daily DD60’s is near zero for the day of planting. |
Soil temperature at a 3 inch depth was 62.9 degrees at 7 this morning (May 10) at Rocky Mount. Temperatures should be above 65 in another couple hours.
The DD60s predicted for the 5 days following planting at Rocky Mount are included in the table below. The outlook has improved since our last update on May 8. If things do not change for the worse, it is time to go, go, go. The riskiest days in this current forecast are May 12th and 13th. It should be safe to plant, but may more attention to the recommendations at Tips for Improving Cotton Stands During Periods of Marginal Planting Weather.
Date | Daily DD60s* | DD60s for next 5 days | Low temp | Planting condition |
May 10 | 10 | 31 | Good | |
11 | 6 | 29.5 | Good | |
12 | 6 | 33.5 | Good | |
13 | 1.5 | 37.5 | Good** | |
14 | 7.5 | 46 | Very Good | |
15 | 8.5 | 48.5 | Very Good | |
16 | 10 | 50 | Excellent | |
17 | 10 | 50 | Excellent | |
18 | 10 | 50 | Excellent | |
19 | 10 | 50 | Excellent | |
20 | 10 | |||
21 | 10 | |||
22 | 10 | |||
23 | 10 | |||
24 | 10 | 66 |
*DD60’s are capped at 10 for any one day.
** Planting conditions reduced because of low DD60’s on day of planting.
— Keith Edmisten, Professor of Crop Science and Extension Cotton Specialist and Guy Collins, Extension Associate Professor – Cotton, NC State Extension
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