Mississippi Delta soils exhibit a high degree of spatial variability, complicating N fertilizer management. Remote sensing may be useful in identifying zones where N-use efficiency can be increased. The objectives of this research were to determine the effects of varying N status on canopy reflectance using a multispectral sensor and to evaluate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) algorithm for its utility in describing cotton growth and N nutritional status. A field experiment consisting of four fertilizer N rate strips established across soil variability was initiated in 1999. Multispectral imagery was acquired throughout the season. Growth and canopy development was detected using multispectral images, but separation in treatments did not occur until mid July. NDVI was highly correlated with plant height at first bloom and peak bloom. These results suggest sufficient canopy development is necessary to detect variations in growth and use of an index such as NDVI may require near full crop canopy for evaluation of N status.