Irrigation Response in Cotton to Optimize Yield, Quality and Profitability in the Texas High Plains

An imperative issue facing production agriculture on the South Plains is water availability. Over time, water has been drawn out of the Ogallala Aquifer at a rate that exceeds its ability to recharge. Therefore, efficient irrigation levels and seeding rates that optimize cotton quality and yield are vital to this region. This experiment consists of one cotton variety, three levels of irrigation and three diverse plant populations. Water is applied using a sub-surface drip irrigation system. Soil-water status was monitored using a Troxler soil moisture gauge. Crop growth was monitored by nodes above white flower and nodes above cracked boll measurements. Yield data was collected by a mechanical harvester, and the fiber quality was determined using AFIS analysis at the Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute in Lubbock, Texas.