Comparisons of ultra-narrow row and conventionally-spaced cotton /
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) growers are faced with rising production costs and static crop prices. A potential strategy for reducing production costs, by shortening the growing season, entails growing cotton in ultra-narrow rows with elevated plant densities. A three-year field study was conducte...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
2000.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=731980821&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) growers are faced with rising production costs and static crop prices. A potential strategy for reducing production costs, by shortening the growing season, entails growing cotton in ultra-narrow rows with elevated plant densities. A three-year field study was conducted near College Station, Texas to document differences in vegetative and reproductive growth of cotton grown in four row spacings of 19, 38, 76, and 101 cm. In the 19-cm rows, the plant densities established were 12.2, 18.8, and 40.5 plants m[]. Densities of 11.3 and 19.5 plants m[] were established in the 38-cm rows. In the 76- and 101-cm row spacings, densities of 11.7 and 7.4 plants m[], respectively, were evaluated. Plant height was reduced in the 19-cm row spacings, regardless of plant density, in only one year. In two of the three years, total node counts were reduced in the 19-cm rows with the high plant density. Canopy closure occurred most rapidly in the 19- and 38.1-cm row spacings with the higher plant densities. Despite less leaf area per plant and smaller plants in the higher plant densities, these treatments accumulated leaf area index and produced biomass more rapidly than the conventional row spacings. In 1998, a relatively dry growing season, the higher plant densities in the 19- and 38-cm row spacings tended to partition more biomass to reproductive structures and yielded more than the conventional row spacings. The 1997 and 1999, growing seasons were relatively wet and yields were unaffected by the row-spacing treatments. In 1997 and 1998, the 19-cm row spacing with the high plant density had 90% of the harvestable bolls at the first fruiting position and 50% of the bolls located on the first 10 nodes. Both of these percentages were greater than those observed in the wider row spacings. These factors are contributory to the earlier crop maturity observed with the 19-cm row spacing at the high plant density in 1998. Narrow row spacings and high plant densities did not consistently alter fiber quality. Ultra-narrow row cotton appears to be a viable option for producers attempting to reduce costs while maintaining yields. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Agronomy". |
| Physical Description: | x, 92 leaves ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-91). |