HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jones, M. A. Articles by Wells, R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Jones, M. A. Articles by Wells, R. Agricola Articles by Jones, M. A. Articles by Wells, R.

Fiber Yield and Quality of Cotton Grown at Two Divergent Population Densities

Delta Research and Extension Center, Stoneville, MS 38776, formerly, Dep. of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7620
Dep. of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7620.

^* Corresponding author (randy_wells{at}ncsu.edu).

Poor seed germination and early seedling damage often reduce plant populations in the north-eastern cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) producing region of the USA. A field study was conducted at Clayton, NC, on a Dothan sandy loam (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic Plinthic Kandiudult) to investigate responses of cotton reproductive development to reduced plant population. All flowers on plants grown at 2 and 12 plants m^–2 were tagged so that associations among boll and lint quantity and quality, flowering date, and fruiting position could be determined. On plants grown at 2 plants m^–2, 33 and 65% of their fiber came from flowers initiated before 88 days after planting (DAP) in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Plants grown at 12 plants m^–2 produced 63 and 88% of their fiber from flowers initiated before 88 DAP in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Plant population did not affect total lint yield, however. Because of favorable late-season weather, plants grown at 2 plants m^–2 produced more bolls on vegetative branches and at more distal sympodial positions than did plants grown at 12 plants m^–2. Boll weight and micronaire were generally higher for earlier bolls at all positions for the lower population density. Later bolls exhibited poorer boll and fiber properties, indicating negative effects of reduced heat unit accumulation by later bolls. Our findings indicate that replanting, which might delay stand establishment by 3 to 4 wk, would be of little help toward improving fiber yield because it would rely more heavily on later produced bolls.

Received for publication May 12, 1997.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. D. Siebert and A. M. Stewart Influence of Plant Density on Cotton Response to Mepiquat Chloride Application Agron. J., October 31, 2006; 98(6): 1634 - 1639. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Siebert, A. M. Stewart, and B. R. Leonard Comparative Growth and Yield of Cotton Planted at Various Densities and Configurations Agron. J., April 11, 2006; 98(3): 562 - 568. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. T. LEI and L. J. WILSON Recovery of Leaf Area through Accelerated Shoot Ontogeny in Thrips-damaged Cotton Seedlings Ann. Bot., July 1, 2004; 94(1): 179 - 186. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. H. Davidonis, A. S. Johnson, J. A. Landivar, and C. J. Fernandez Cotton Fiber Quality is Related to Boll Location and Planting Date Agron. J., January 1, 2004; 96(1): 42 - 47. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. Faircloth, K. L. Edmisten, R. Wells, and A. M. Stewart The Influence of Defoliation Timing on Yields and Quality of Two Cotton Cultivars Crop Sci., January 1, 2004; 44(1): 165 - 172. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.J. Kasperbauer Cotton Fiber Length Is Affected by Far-Red Light Impinging on Developing Bolls Crop Sci., November 1, 2000; 40(6): 1673 - 1678. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]