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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #207204
Title: SCREENING COTTON VARIETIES FOR TOLERANCE TO WATERLOGGED SOIL CONDITIONS

Author
item DUNN, D - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item PHILLIPS, A - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item STEVENS, W - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item Vories, Earl

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/5/2007
Publication Date: 6/1/2007
Citation: Dunn, D., A. Phillips, W.E. Stevens, and E. Vories. 2007. Screening cotton varieties for tolerance to water-logged soil conditions. In Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf., p. 467-471. Memphis, Tenn.: National Cotton Council [CDROM].

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cotton is adapted to an arid climate and well drained soils. Waterlogged soils are considered to be one of the major problems for cotton producers world wide. This problem is amplified on heavy clay soils, and furrow irrigation makes the potential for waterlogging even greater. To investigate the response of cotton plants to waterlogged soil, sixty varieties of cotton (51 commercial cultivars and 9 plant introductions) were evaluated for their ability to withstand prolonged flooded soil conditions. A Sharkey clay soil at the University of Missouri Lee Farm in Pemiscot County Missouri was used for the evaluation. The varieties were cultivated on raised beds on 38 inch rows, with five seeds of each variety hand planted in hills spaced 48 inches apart. A soil levee was established around the experiment to retain flood water. Each variety was replicated four times in a randomized complete block experimental design. Significant differences were found among varieties for two post-flood visual ratings and seed cotton yields. There was a negative relationship between each rating and yield with higher rating numbers (i.e., poorer condition) generally being lower in yield. Both rating times were poorly correlated to seed cotton yields. The large amount of variability in the data makes definitive conclusions difficult; therefore more study on the relationships of cotton and waterlogged soil conditions is needed.