Avat Shekoofa Research from the University of Tennessee shows that turning water on at the right growth stage is key to maximizing yields in cotton. Timing is everything when it comes to cotton irrigation, according to university research. Suggested Event Aug 31, 2021 to Sep 02, 2021 It’s a question Avat Shekoofa says she hears quite often. “Why do the crops under my irrigation pivot not perform any better (or sometimes not as good) as my dryland crops?” “That’s a hard question to answer because the situation is different for each farm, but it goes back to knowing the soil water holding capacity of your farm as well as the water needs of the crop you’re growing” said Shekoofa, a crop physiologist with the University of Tennessee. “It’s very important to understand the growth stages where water is most critical and irrigate accordingly.”