Types of Soil for Cotton Plants

Soil Nutrients for Cotton

• Cotton needs 16 nutrients for proper growth and prime production, reports Banks. Cotton soil tests should check the levels of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, boron, manganese, zinc, iron, chlorine, copper and molybdenum. Local extension offices typically offer nutrient soil testing. Soil fertilizers aid in achieving proper cotton soil nutrient levels. It is extremely important to test soil to determine the correct ratio of fertilizing nutrients needed for cotton production.

Soil pH for Cotton

• Experts use the zero through 14 acid-alkaline pH index scale to test soil pH. Zero is the most acidic and 14 the most alkaline. A measurement of seven indicates a neutral or balanced pH. Banks recommends an acidic to neutral soil pH of 5.7 to 7.0 for cotton, but says that it can tolerate soil pH levels from 4.5 to 8.5. Amending soil---mixing additives within soil to change its properties---for proper pH levels is possible. Lime increases soil alkalinity, and sulfur increases soil acidity.

Soil Texture for Cotton

• Cotton needs a soil texture that drains well and will not upset nutrient balances. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reports that cotton prefers a lighter, sandier soil that is not particularly high in organic matter content. Soil organics add nutrients to soils, and soils with marginal to low sand content are usually very moist soils. Lighter, sandier soils with low organic content drain quickly but retain the nutrient base cotton desires.