Potash affects cotton production in many ways. The most important is greater cotton lint yields. In addition, potash increases boll and seed sizes, improves water use efficiency, enhances disease and nematode resistance, and IMPROVES LINT QUALITY.

Research in the 1960s and 70s in Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina and Missouri found that potash increased fiber length, strength and micronaire. Work done at the Mississippi Delta Research and Extension Center at Stoneville showed that potash reduced dockage for micronaire from $8.22 per bale to just 11 cents per bale. Recent California and Arkansas research on current varieties revealed better lint quality, including length, strength and micronaire. Studies in other cotton producing countries are finding similar results. In China, potash extended lint length and expanded strength. It also thickened the leaf cuticle, thereby lessening damage from aphids.

Scientists at Stoneville cooperated with those at the Texas Tech University Spinning Lab and evaluated cotton lint growth with and without potash fertilization for yarn spinning and dyeing qualities. Mississippi State grew the cotton and Texas Tech spun the yarn.

Potash reduced total major thick defects in 100,000 yards of yarn in the . .1 to 1 centimeter length from 13,897 to 741 defects. Total major thin defects in 100,000 yards of yarn in the 8 to 30 centimeter length were reduced from 871 to 250. Potash decreased the number of breaks per 1,000 hours of rotor spinning from 322 to only 60 breaks. Each break causes the spinning to stop while the break is hand- or machine-tied. This means that cotton grown with proper potash fertilization spins better yarn and makes more desirable cloth, which dyes better and is more economical for the mills.

Potash is important in cotton production because it increases yields. But it also improves lint quality and farmer profits, and spinning and dyeing characteristics that boost mill profits.

Cotton farmers should determine the potash needs of their crops and plan a fertilization program to insure high yields of top quality cotton.