ARS | Publication request: QUANTIFICATION OF WITHIN PLANT AND WITHIN-FIELD YIELD AND FIBER VARIABILITY

Submitted to: Crop Management at www.cropmanagement.org
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 18, 2003
Publication Date: January 21, 2004
Citation: Davidonis, G.H., Johnson, A.S., Johnson, R.M. 2004. Quantification of within plant and within-field yield and fiber variability. Available from: www.cropmanagement.org. Crop Management.

Interpretive Summary: In cotton fiber quality varies at the plant and field level. Mapping variability in fiber maturity differences by the location of the bolls on the plants and by location in a field provided data that could be used for segregated or zone harvest. Harvesting those sections of a field that have lower micronaire values separately from sections of a field with high micronaire values would minimize the number of bales with fiber qualities outside the acceptable range. Trends in fiber maturity (micronaire/micronafis) values and yield were consistent for some sites in a producer's field over a two year period. Other management practices designed to increase the number of low micronaire bolls coupled with zoned harvest should minimize the number of bales outside the acceptable range. This information benefits producers and crop consultants.

Technical Abstract: In cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fiber quality varies at the plant and field level. Mapping within plant and within field quality provides data that can be used to assess the degree of variability. Field variability maps can be used to identify zones or bands within a field that can be segregared during harvest in order to minimize the number of bales with qualities outside the acceptable range. Plant maps revealed that no boll location consistency had low micronaire/micronafis values. Trends in micronaire/micronafis values and yield were similar for some field sites over a two year period.