Proper nutrition is one of the many factors necessary in achieving the high yield and quality standards we have set for our cotton crop. Laboratory testing can reveal situations where more or new nutrients should be added to a crop. Unfortunately there have been bad experiences with predicting fertiliser use based on laboratory tests, but these experiences, plus research and new equipment should be used to our advantage. Most cotton growing soils are relatively fertile. However there are three categories of deficiency where fertiliser use is necessary for maximum production: