Plant Population and Plant Height Effects on Pima Cotton Lint Yield¹

Abstract

Plant populations of American pima cotton (Gossypium barbadenseL.) and upland cotton (G. hirsutumL.) giving maximum lint yields vary widely in reports in the literature. This study attempts to explain the wide variations in plant populations giving maximum lint yield for pima cotton by considering the plant population X plant height interactions with lint yield. Field tests were conducted for 5 yr at four locations on Anthropic Torrifluvents, Torrifluventic Haplostolls, and Typic Torrifluvents soils. Fifteen pima cotton tests with varied plant populations, and with 1.02‐m row spacing, had plant population, plant height, and lint yield measured on each plot. The relationships among yield, population, and height were analyzed by multiple linear regression in each test. In three of the 15 individual test analyses all regression components were significant. A combined analysis of the 15 tests showed a significant negative (P=0.001) plant population × plant height interaction for lint yield. Most of the plant population and plant height treatment means in these tests were within the range of 20 000 to 200 000 plants ha −1and 60 to 190 cm high. Plant population giving maximum yield decreased about 11 000 plants ha −1for each 10‐cm increase in plant height. Cultivars and irrigation treatments did not greatly alter the interaction. Year and geographical location effects were more varied. The variation in plant population producing maximum lint yield for different plant heights was great enough to explain the varied plant populations for maximum lint yield reported in the literature.

Comparative Growth and Yield of Cotton Planted at Various Densities and Configurations

“…Considerable research efforts have been ongoing for >100 yr to determine the optimum plant population for maximum yield and quality in upland cotton. Many studies report that the highest yields occur in plant populations ranging from 49 000 to 256 000 plants ha −1 (Kittock et al, 1986). Our results show that maximum yields can be obtained with plant densities between 33 975 and 152 883 plants ha −1 if planted in a drill‐seeded configuration or hill‐drop configuration with hill spacing not to exceed 40 cm.…”

Identification of novel sources of genetic variation for the improvement of cold germination ability in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

“…Decrease in temperature below 15°C concomitantly reduces germination percentage and induces chilling injuries that often leads to seedling malformations, taproot loss, reduced vigor, increased occurrence of seedling diseases, poor stand establishment and ultimately, reduced yields. Similarly, low temperature stress at the later stages of growth negatively impacts the crop by delaying fiber elongation and reducing cell wall thickening, resulting in low cellulose production and overall decline in crop productivity (Kittock et al 1986;Speed et al 1996;Krzyzanowski and Delouche 2011).…”

High-throughput volumetric reconstruction for 3D wheat plant architecture studies

“…To meet this challenge, more productive crop varieties must be bred based on the identi¯cation of new plant characteristics. Plant architecture (PA) has been proven to significantly a®ect crop yield, where the yield is a®ected primarily by the PA components of plant height, 2 number of tillers, 3 tiller diameter and tiller angle. 4,5 The characteristics of the ideal plant architecture (IPA) include small numbers of tillers, few unproductive tillers and thick and sturdy stems.…”