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Seeding Rate Effects on Yield Response and Last Effective Boll Populations in Cotton

S.W. Halfmann, J.T. Cothren, and J.B. Bynum

ABSTRACT

The increased cost of planting transgenic cotton varieties has stimulated interest in determining the optimal density for commercial production. If seeding costs can be reduced without adversely affecting yield and quality, these savings could potentially increase net return for the producer. However, alteration of plant density may affect the growth and development of the crop. Properties affecting cotton lint quality range from diameter and length to the actual shape of the fiber. These properties are affected by factors including genetics, as well as environmental conditions. Subsequently, these parameters impact lint harvested per acre. The objectives of this study were to examine the impact of plant density (ranging from 30 to 90 thousand plants per acre in increments of fifteen thousand) on growth and development of transgenic cotton varieties.

Significant differences in lint yield were observed between populations, but inconsistent trends were exhibited among varieties. Furthermore, an interaction was presented for population and varieties relative to yield. Lint quality proved to be insignificant among all treatments as a result of late season rains and delayed harvest, decreasing overall lint qualities. First position boll retention proved to be a significant contributor to lint yield. In two varieties (DP 555 and SG 215), the population with the lowest percent boll abscission on the first fruiting position yielded the most lint per acre. These findings indicate that expected growing season lengths should be considered when determining optimal population densities.





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Document last modified 04/27/04