Abstract:
Modern cotton (Gossypium
hirsutum L.) cultivars with herbicide
resistance have rejuvenated an interest in
narrow row cotton production, primarily
because of the reduction of weed control
problems encountered in the past with
narrow row systems. While the primary goal
of narrow row cotton is to reduce
production costs, an agronomic and
physiological evaluation of this cropping
system is also needed. The objectives of this
study were to determine the feasibility of
using modern cotton cultivars in narrow
rows (30 cm) for cotton production in the
Gonabad and to assess the effect of these
various systems on cotton growth, lint yield,
and fiber quality. Plant height, sympodia
and total bolls per plant were reduced in
cotton grown in narrow row spacing. In
most cases, cotton grown in narrow rows
had lint yields equal to or higher than those
attained in the 70 cm spacing. modern
cultivars in narrow row cotton production
did not improve lint yield. No conclusions
could be made regarding the impact of plant
stature on lint yield. Row spacing had little
impact on fiber quality narrow row cotton
appeared to be a viable agronomic cotton
production practice for the Gonabad
compared with conventionally - grown
cotton based upon lint yield and fiber
quality.
