During the summer of 1988, a field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of carbon dioxide enrichment on cotton growth and development. This experiment utilized a vertical vent pipe system of carbon dioxide release in an open field. This enabled plants growing under normal conditions to be exposed to carbon dioxide at 600 ppm, nearly double ambient. Carbon dioxide enrichment occurred for 43 days from 18 July through 30 August 1988. An increased yield of 35-40% in both lint and seed was seen. This increased yield was due to an increase in the number of bolls and was not influenced by the size of the bolls. Size of the bolls was shown not to have increased with carbon dioxide enrichment as shown by the parameter of locks/boll. Lint quality also increased with carbon dioxide enrichment. This was demonstrated by commercial parameters.