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Submitted to: Crop Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 12/10/2009 Publication Date: 3/16/2010 Citation: Molin, W.T. 2010. Row Spacing and Plant Population Effects on Cotton Produced With or Without Irrigation. Crop Management. DOI:10.1094/CM-2010-0316-02-RS. Interpretive Summary: New crop configurations, such as two crop rows per bed, may lead to incremental increases in yield. In this research, the effects of twin row production systems were evaluated and compared to single row production systems. The results show that under non irrigated conditions in dry years, twin row systems produced higher yields than single row systems at equivalent plant populations. Twin row systems may benefit cotton growers in Mississippi that do not have the ability to irrigate. Technical Abstract: Field studies were conducted from 2006 through 2008 to evaluate the effects of twin-row spacings, populations, and irrigation on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) lint yields. Twin row systems, consisting of twin 18-, 25- and 38-cm rows on a 1-m bed at populations of 111,000 and 148,000 plants/acre, were compared to conventional single row systems at equivalent populations. The experiments were performed under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. Under irrigated conditions, there were no differences in lint yields or boll weights between single- and twin-row systems regardless of plant population. Under non-irrigated conditions, lint yield of 18-cm twin-row cotton was greater than other row spacings in 2008, and greater than 38-cm twin row cotton in 2006, regardless of population. The results indicated that 18-cm twin-row systems at populations typically used in single row systems could increase lint yields under non-irrigated conditions. |
