Fluometuron at 1.1 kg ai/ha was applied postemergence (over-the-top) to cotton in the V3 to V4 stage to determine effects on flower and boll production, yield, and fiber quality. Treated plants produced more bolls but boll weight was reduced. Lint yield was not affected. Flower and boll production during the first 2 weeks of flowering were reduced, but treated plants produced more flowers and bolls during mid- and late bloom. A delay in sympodia development delayed development of fruiting structures. Fluometuron treatment promoted sympodia development on monopodia at nodes three and four. Fiber micronaire was reduced in 1 of 2 yr. Fiber strength, length, and length uniformity were not affected.
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yield and quality can be affected by altered fruiting patterns related to the abscission of fruiting forms. This field study quantified the effects of flower removal during various stages of reproductive development on subsequent yield development, boll development, and fiber properties. Effects of early‐, mid‐, and late‐season flower loss on cotton reproductive development was determined. Various flower removal treatments were imposed on two cultivars at Clayton, NC, during 1991 and 1992. Early flower removal treatments (3rd week and earlier) delayed boll development, but no significant reduction in yield was found at season's end. Later flower removals (4th week and later) significantly reduced total fiber yields (13–33%) compared with early‐season removals (1st, 2nd, and through 3rd week) and no removal. Boll weight was positively correlated with fiber properties and was related to the amount of competition among developing bolls. The largest bolls resulted from treatments that had the largest negative effect on yield. Micronaire was the only fiber variable affected by flower removal, with increased values associated with later removal. Data indicate that late‐season flower losses (4th week and later) are the most injurious to yield, with significant yield reductions occurring from even the least severe, late‐season removal treatment of 6th week and later flowers. Early loss (3rd week and earlier) of fruit can be tolerated if the season allows sufficient time for compensatory reproductive growth and if further losses due to plant stress or insect damage are controlled.
Development of a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crop is a full‐season process involving a complex balance between vegetative and reproductive allocation. Despite this fact, fruit removal studies have seldom examined the effects of flower removal during late anthesis. Flower removal treatments were imposed on two cotton cultivars to assess effects on vegetative and reproductive dry weights (DW) and boll maturation patterns. Flower removal treatments were imposed during early‐, mid‐, and late‐anthesis. Removal of 1st and 2nd and 1st through 3rd week flowers caused a decrease in the reproductive/vegetative ratio (RVR) at 105 d after planting (DAP) or 93 DAP 1991 and 1992, respectively. However, no difference in RVR was found between these treatments and the control (no removal) at either 133 or 131 DAP (1991 and 1992). Early removals (3rd week and earlier) increased number of bolls developing above Node 10 and decreased the number of bolls developing at first positions on sympodial branches. Flower removal during the 4th week and later decreased the RVR at 133 and 131 DAP (1991 and 1992) by at least 23% as compared with the controls. Late‐season removal treatments decreased the final number of total bolls and significantly reduced the number of bolls residing at main stem Nodes 11 and higher. Although fruit retention early in reproductive growth is often important for early maturity and maximal yield, this study found that subsequent development of distal and more apical flowers adequately replaced fruit lost durin early anthesis. In contrast, later developing bolls, often thought to be unimportant, were needed to achieve maximal yield.
Effect of planting date on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) response to side‐banded starter fertilizer has not been well documented. Consequently, field studies were conducted in four North Carolina environments to examine the response of cotton to placement of starter fertilier at three planting dates. Cotton planted prior to 5 May (Early), mid‐May (Mid), and late‐May (Late) on a Norfolk loamy sand (fine‐loamy, siliceous, and thermic Typic Kandiudults) and Craven fine sandy loam (clayey, mixed, thermic Aquic Hapludults) received broadcast or side‐banded applications of ammonium polyphosphate at the rate of 17 and 57 kg ha−1 of N and P2O5 respectively. Fertilizer placement had minor effects on plant population. Planting period effects on plant population could not be attributed to heat unit accumulations. Flower production during the first 3 wk of bloom varied with planting period and environment Mid‐ and late‐planting decreased average lint yields across the four environments by 31 and SO%, respectively. Lint yield was increased 9% by side‐banded fertilizer placement. Significant planting period ✕ fertilizer placement interactions were not observed for plant population, flower production, and lint yield. This indicates that applying side‐banded starter fertilizer can benefit producers irrespective of planting date.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.