Cotton Plant Development and Plant Mapping

Abstract

The growth and development of a cotton plant is unique among the commonly grown row crops in the United States. Understanding cotton's growth and development pattern is very important for timely management in the short-season environment commonly experienced in Missouri. Cotton is a semi-tropical, perennial plant that has been bred and cultivated for production as an annual plant under a wide range of temperate environments. With a good understanding of how a cotton plant grows and develops, growers will be better prepared to predict how cotton will grow and to make good management decisions. This publication provides information about cotton plant development and plant mapping.