The Effect of Soil Specific Seeding Rates On Water Stress and Cotton Yield

            Precision management of cotton production can increase profitability by decreasing inputs.  Reducing seeding rates in soils while maintaining production potential will decrease input costs and may improve lint yield and quality in drought-stressed soils.  The overall objective of this project is to improve cotton production profitability by minimizing seeding rates, maintaining maximum yields, and improving lint quality potential in water-limited soils.  For the 2008 and 2009 growing seasons, 27 measurement locations were selected in production-sized, irrigated cotton fields and planted in DP164 RRFBGII (Round-Up Ready Flex, Bollgard II). The sites were selected based on soil type (3 soil types).  Three seeding rates (30,000; 40,000; and 50,000 seeds acre^-1) were established on each of the three soil types with three replications. In 2009 an additional seeding rate was added, 20,000 seeds acre^-1, which also increased measurement sites to 36.  At each measurement location, soil texture, soil water usage (weekly), lint quantity and quality (HVI) were measured.