Excessive rainfall in early or mid-season complicated nitrogen (N) management decisions for cotton (Gossypium spp.) grown in humid regions. When excessive rainfall occurs after fertilizer application, sidedress applications of N are frequently applied to offset possible N losses caused by wet conditions. When losses are minimal, however, application of excessive amounts of sidedress n can delay maturity, increase incidence of bollrot and other vise reduce yield and harvest efficiency. Several field studies conducted on various souls and locations in Louisiana during wet, normal and dry years were reviewed to determine the influence of rainfall on N requirements and on the value of supplemental N applied as a side dressing later in the growing season. these studies indicate that excessive rainfall causes translocation but not substantial loss of plant-available N in the rhizosphere of cotton grown on well-drained N in the rhizosphere of cotton grown on well-drained and moderately well-drained soils, optimum rates of preplant N fertilization in years where excessive rainfall occurs in early and mid-season are similar to those of more normal years. In most wet years, sidedress applications have little or no influence on yields, although on study suggests that sidedress applications may be beneficial following an extended period of rainfall during mid-season.