Partitioning Yield Reduction from Early Cotton Planting¹

Abstract

Delayed cotton (Gossypium spp.) planting generally reduces lint yield because it reduces the length of the growing season. Planting cotton too early also can reduce lint yield. Most growers believe that reduced yield with early planting is caused by reduced stand. Previous research suggested that low temperature during germination and early seedling growth may reduce lint yield regardless of stand. This study attempts to clarify low temperature effects on lint yield by partitioning cotton lint yield reduction from early planting into the effects from reduced stand and other factors. Soils were Typic Torrifluvents. Thermic Torrilluvents, and Anthropic Torrifluvents. Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) had significantly (P < 0.05) reduced lint yield from early planting in five tests. American pima cotton (G. barbadense L.) grown in four of the tests had smaller, nonsignificant lint yield decreases from early planting in three of the tests and higher lint yield from early planting in the fourth test. Early planted cotton generally was shorter. A comparison of upland cotton lint yields, using adjustment by regression analyses with plant population, indicated that something other than plant population, presumably low temperature, caused approximately 100, 94, 66, 22, and 0 % of the lint reduction from early planting in five analyses. Thus physiological and morphological effects of low temperatures early in the cotton planting season often may contribute as much to reduced lint yield as does reduced stand.

Improvement of Cotton Crop Performance by Estimating Optimum Sowing and Picking Time

“…Similarly, Tuck et al (2010) also reported late and minimum emergence when temperature during sowing fell to 14°C (Pereira et al, 2005;Gipson et al, 2006). Conversely, planting during June exposed the seed to highest temperature (>30°C) which assure quick emergence (Kittock et al, 1987) but low emergence count. Awan et al (2011) found that 25 th April provided optimum temperature (26ºC) which declared as most suitable sowing time for cotton planting in favor of early emergence and maximum emergence count because it provided optimum temperature (25ºC) to germinating seed (Fig.…”

Early Vigor of Advanced Breeding Lines and Modern Cotton Cultivars

“…While early planting associated with suboptimal growing conditions can negatively influence yields, late planting also results in reduced yields, lint percentages, and low micronaire because of delayed boll maturity under cool fall temperatures, even though conditions for seedling emergence and stand establishment may have been ideal (Bilbro and Ray, 1973;Guthrie, 1991;Cathey and Meredith, 1988;Kittock et al, 1987;Wrather et al, 2008). On the other hand, early planting without cold stress showed higher yields than later planting due to the crop maturing during warmer fall conditions (Bange and Milroy, 2004).…”

Increased Yield and Revenue with a Seedling Transplanting System for Hybrid Seed Production in Bt Cotton

“…Agronomic practices such as planting date, plant population densities and planting geometry affect yield and quality of lint and seed in cotton (Bridge et al. 1973, Quisenberry and Gipson 1974, Mauney 1980, Kittock et al. 1987).…”

“…Regardless of the increased corresponding input for hut management and transplanting, planting cotton seed in a greenhouse-like hut during the early season is a potent way to avoid risks of cold stress and seedling diseases. Agronomic practices such as planting date, plant population densities and planting geometry affect yield and quality of lint and seed in cotton (Bridge et al 1973, Quisenberry and Gipson 1974, Mauney 1980, Kittock et al 1987. Pettigrew (2002) reported that early planting in Mississippi Delta shifted the blooming period earlier in the growing season, and the early planted cotton demonstrated a 10 % yield improvement over the normal planted crop.…”

“…Soil temperature at 5 cm depth either inside or outside the hut was recorded at 2:00, 8:00, 14:00 and 20:00 hours each day with a geothermometer. Cumulative early season cold units were calculated as described by Kittock et al. (1987): Σ (10 °C−daily minimum temperature if ≤10 °C) from planting to 20 May.…”