Jane Breen Pierce1, Patricia Monk1, and Patricia F. O'Leary2. (1) New Mexico State University, 67 E. Four Dinkus Road, Artesia, NM 88210, (2) Cotton Incorporated, 6399 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27513
Cotton effectively compensated for simulated mid to late-season square and boll losses in Acala 1517-99 in southern New Mexico. Field trials were conducted from 2002-2006 to evaluate the degree of compensation with various degrees and times of injury. Yields were collected by node and position for 2002-2003 and 2006 for 10’ of row per plot with 4-6 replications. In 2004-2005 yields were collected from plots 50’ long, hand picked without segregation by node. The primary means of compensation was greater retention of squares that would otherwise have been shed. However in some cases cotton compensated by increasing the lint weight per boll measured by weight/lock. Significant losses from squares were rare, only when the injury was both severe and persistent. Square losses produced slight yield increases or up to 16% losses when injury was extremely severe. Injury to bolls did produce significant yield losses, up to 33%. While there was still compensation for bolls it was much less common and of a lesser degree than compensation for squares. The impact of injury and compensation on lint quality will be discussed.
