The Southern Extension and Research Activity on Soil Testing and Plant Analysis (SERA-6 committee) is preparing a publication entitled, Sufficiency Ranges for Plant Analysis in the Southern Region of the U.S. A review of the published research which supports current plant analysis interpretation in this region for cotton is presented along with recommendations for use. Guidelines for cotton leaf sampling and interpretation are highly subjective. However, for consistency across the region, the authors recommend sampling the uppermost, mature, leaf blade on the vegetative stem during the period of one week before to one week after first bloom. Concentrations of some nutrients in leaf blades change so little during the season that the accepted concentrations at early bloom may also be used for late bloom and maturity for trouble shooting only. Sufficiency ranges are presented for primary, secondary, and some micronutrients. Petioles from the same plant position should be monitored weekly for nitrate-N, total K and total P only. Nitrate-N in petioles must be considered along with environmental, physiological, and other nutrient stress factors. However, in general, cotton producers in Mississippi and Tennessee westward into eastern Texas and Oklahoma should consider guidelines similar to those currently in use in Arkansas. Cotton producers on irrigated Coastal Plain soils from Alabama and Florida into Virginia should consider guidelines similar to those currently in use in Georgia.