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Evaluation of F₂ Genotypes of Cotton for Conservation Tillage

USDA-ARS Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Res. Center, 2611 W. Lucas St., Florence, SC, 29501-1241
Delta and Pine Land Co., Hartsville, SC 29550

^* Corresponding author (bauer{at}florence.ars.usda.gov).

Reduced plant populations often occur when cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is grown in conservation tillage systems. Our objectives were to determine the potential of exploiting hybrid vigor in F₂ cotton to improve stand establishment and yield in conservation tillage systems and to compare the expression of heterosis in this system with that in a conventional tillage system. This field study was conducted in 1991,1992, and 1994 on a Norfolk loamy sand soil (fine-loamy, silicious, thermic, Typic Kandiudult) near Florence, SC. Five cotton cultivars were crossed in a half-diallel design to generate 10 F₂ generation genotypes. The parent and F₂ generations were planted into conservation tillage plots that had desiccated crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) as a surface mulch and into conventional tillage plots. Cotton stands were similar for both generations in both tillage systems in 1991. At 2 wk after planting in 1992, a tillage x (Parent vs. F₂) interaction (P 0.05) occurred for plant population as stands in conventional tillage were 7.5 and 8.4 plants m^–1 for the parent and F₂ generations, respectively, while stands in conservation tillage were 4.1 plants m^–1 for the parents and 4.2 plants m^–1 for the F₂ generation. At 2 wk after planting in 1994, stands of the F₂ generation were 1.3 plants m^–1 greater than the parents averaged over both tillage systems. Yield differences occurred only in 1992, when the F₂ generation had greater lint yield than the parents in both tillage systems. The results suggest that growing F₂ genotypes may improve cotton stand establishment and yield under certain conditions in conservation tillage systems, but the amount of improvement will be similar to that found in conventional tillage.

Received for publication April 26, 1995.

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