Field experiments with irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirstum L.) were conducted in 1990 and 1991 in three Arkansas locations to study the effects of soil applied nitrogen rates and environments on nodes above white flower (NAWF) measurements for 'Stoneville 453' cotton. The soils were a sandy loam near Manila, a silt loam near Rohwer and a silty clay near Keiser. on the silt loan both years and the sandy loam in 1991, NAWF throughout the bloom period was generally higher with increasing N rates. Smaller differences on the sandy loam soil in 1990 were probably due to high levels of residual N from previous crops. Much smaller differences in NAWF were observed on the Sharkey clay, which always exhibits reduced plant height. Early season vegetative growth indicated by NAWF at 60 days after planting was lower in 1991 than 1990 for each location. Since the plots were all irrigated, environmental factors other than water stress must have led to the difference.