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 Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bridge, R. R. Articles by Chism, J. F. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Bridge, R. R. Articles by Chism, J. F. Agricola Articles by Bridge, R. R. Articles by Chism, J. F.

Influence of Planting Method and Plant Population on Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)¹

To determine the effects of variations in plants/hill, within-row plant spacings, and plant populations on the agronomic and fiber properties of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), we evaluated the performance of ‘Deltapine 16’ when planted in hills and drilled at five populations over a 3-year period (1969-71). Hills were spaced 38 cm apart. The hills were thinned by hand to one, three, five, seven, and nine plants/hill, representing a range in population of 24,700 to 222,300 plants/ha. Plants in the drill plantings were spaced approximately 38.0, 12.7, 7.6, 5.3, and 4.3 cm apart to provide approximately the same populations for the hill-dropped and drill-planting method.

Significant differences in yield due to populations were found, but planting method had no significant influence on yield. The highest yields each year were obtained in a population range of 70,000 to 121,000 plants/ha. In 2 out of 3 years the highest yields were obtained with a population of 114,000 to 121,000 plants/ha (five plants/hill or plants spaced 7.6 cm apart). Significant differences in lint percentage, boll size, and seed index were due to populations. The combined data indicate no appreciable differences in lint percentage; lint percentage of the low population, however, was significantly higher than that of the two highest populations in 2 of the 3 years. Boll size gradually decreased as plant population increased, with the lowest population usually producing significantly larger bolls and seed.

We found that plant populations had no consistent effects on fiber length, strength, and elongation. The differences were small in magnitude and of no practical value. Micronaire tended to decrease as population increased.

Key Words: Plants/ha • Plants/hill • Spacing

² Plant Breeder, Delta Branch of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station; Research Geneticist, PSRD, ARS, USDA; and Assistant Agronomist, Delta Branch of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, respectively, Stoneville, Miss.

Received for publication April 27, 1972.