Nitrogen losses associated with the timing of the application of nitrogen fertilizer and the use of irrigation in the production of cotton in the United States are investigated. For nonirrigated production of cotton, nitrogen fertilizer applied during the fall or the spring realizes a significant loss compared with that applied during the growing season. There is no (statistically) significant evidence that more nitrogen fertilizer applied in the fall is unavailable for plant use relative to nitrogen fertilizer applied in the spring for either nonirrigated or irrigated production of cotton. Irrigation practices result in a significant loss of nitrogen fertilizer because of the increased leaching associated with the irrigation process. Irrigation does reduce, however, potential loss of nitrogen fertilizer by increasing its uptake by plants.
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