Skip‐row Planting of Pima Cotton 1

Growers have been planting American Pima cotton ( Gossypium barbadense L.) in skip‐row patterns without supportive research data on skip‐row effects on yield and quality of Pima cotton. The purpose of this research was to obtain such data on skip‐row planting for Pima cotton. Pima cotton was grown under irrigation in five skip‐row patterns in randomized blocks in each of 5 years. All skip‐row patterns increased lint yields on a planted‐area basis as compared to solid planted. Skipping single rows increased lint yield of a two‐row strip 20%. Skipping two rows increased lint yield an additional 8%. In plant‐6‐skip‐2 pattern, lint yield of outside rows was increased 28% over that of the center two rows. The second rows from the outside had 5% increase in lint yield. A tall cultivar benefited more from skip‐row than did a short cultivar. Skip‐row effect on outside rows was greater during years of high lint yield than during years of low yield (r = 0.90). In these tests the skip‐row yield increases were about 60% of those reported on Upland cotton ( G. hirsutum L.). Outside rows and single rows had lower gin turn‐out, more trash in lint, and slightly higher lint percent. Skip‐row patterns had no effect on fiber quality.