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Effect of Irrigation Timing on Cotton Yield and Earliness

E. D. Vories and R. E. Glover


 
ABSTRACT

A study of the effects of irrigation timing (i.e., different initiation and termination times) for cotton was conducted at the University of Arkansas Northeast Research and Extension Center at Keiser during the 1999 growing season. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Sure-Grow 125) was planted on May 10 at approximately 5 seeds per foot in 38-inch rows on a Sharkey silty clay. Nitrogen was applied at a rate of 98 lb N/acre, split between pre-square (50 lb N/acre) and early flower (23 lb N/acre) applications. No other fertilizers were required. Five irrigation treatments ranged from no irrigations to a total of four furrow irrigations. Highest seedcotton yields were observed for the Delay treatment (3 irrigations beginning July 21 and ending August 13), even though it was the first treatment to reach NAWF = 5 (cutout). NI (no irrigations) and NAWF5 (2 irrigations: July 9 and July 21) were the earliest treatments (based on mean maturity date and percent first harvest) and had the lowest total seedcotton yield. There was no significant yield increase associated with the final irrigation before FOB (August 13, 454 DD60 after NAWF = 5), even though there was less than 0.5 in. of rain during August. Observing this type of study over several years and locations will be required before new Extension recommendations can be made.



Reprinted from Proceedings of the 2000 Beltwide Cotton Conferences pp. 1439 - 1441
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Saturday, Jun 17 2000