Cotton Production in Mississippi
Drainage - Water Furrows
Proper drainage of cotton fields is crucial to getting good stands. Cotton has a low tolerance for wet soil conditions.
The primary reason cotton is generally planted on an elevated bed is
to facilitate drainage of water away from the seed zone. Other reasons
include the fact that elevated beds tend to warm up quicker in the spring.
As moisture drains from soil pore space it is replaced with air. The
specific heat of air and water is different. Air warms up quicker than
water. Also, as the soil dries, beds tend to hold moisture a little longer
and a grower may drag the bed flat to reach enough moisture to get a
stand.
As the planting season progresses into May, soil temperatures increase and the probability of getting "flood" type packing rains diminish. As this happens it is acceptable to plant cotton flat. In fact, a lot of fields will drain better flat than when the field is bedded. If a field had not been formed, or placed on some type grade, bedding may cause water to be caught in low areas of the field.
Regardless
of whether the field is bedded or not, water furrows (drains) should
be properly placed to facilitate drainage of water from the field. This
operation should be carried out immediately after the field is bedded
and again after planted.
If the field is planted flat the water furrows should be opened immediately after the planter leaves the field. The ditcher should stay up with the planter. Getting one day behind may mean the difference is having a stand or replanting.