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Effects of Narrow Row, Plant Population, and Nitrogen Application on Cotton Fiber Characteristics 1
Author(s) -
Koli Stephen E.,
Morrill L. G.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1976.00021962006800050027x
Subject(s) - lint , loam , fiber crop , population , fiber , mathematics , malvaceae , fineness , gossypium hirsutum , udic moisture regime , agronomy , zoology , horticulture , materials science , biology , soil water , composite material , environmental science , soil science , demography , sociology
Narrow row cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) has shown the potential for earlier maturity. This is especially significant in areas where season length is marginal. The effect of narrow row plantings has been similar to a reduced N application rate. Studies were conducted on a Teller fine sandy loam (fine‐loamy, mixed, thermic, Udic Argiustolls) to relate the effects of N rates (0, 45, and 90 kg/ha), row spacing (25, 51, and 76 cm), and plant population (123,550 and 173,000 plants/ha) on cotton fiber characteristics. The effects of N‐row spacing and N‐population interactions were apparent. Finer fiber (decreased micronaire) resulted from high N with 25‐cm row width or high N and high population. But where no N as is applied, the 25‐cm row width produced coarser fibers. There were significant positive correlations between micronaire readings and lint and seed yields in both years. N effects on uniformity index varied from year to year. Uniformity index tended to decrease for 25‐cm row width as plant population increased and at the low plant population as row spacing increased from 25 to 76 cm. In both years there were significant correlations between uniformity index and percent pulled lint, and between uniformity index and fiber fineness. Increasing row spacing without increasing plant population, and vice versa, led to significantly lower fiber strength by 0‐inch gauge measurements in 1973. However, increasing row spacing from 25 to 76 cm produced a significant increase in fiber strength in 1974 by the 1/8‐in. gauge measurement. Fiber strength was negatively correlated with yield in 1974. The major fiber properties of length, strength, and fineness were not consistently affected by the variables of N, row spacing, and population. Some of the interacting effects are of special interest and deserve further evaluation so that the influence of climatic differences can be placed in perspective in relation to the treatment variables.