Management of Cotton Grown Under Sub-Surface Drip and Furrow Irrigation with Differing Plant Densities

Crop management practices such as irrigation and plant density may impact final lint yield in cotton. A field trial was conducted using four planting densities ranging from 6.5 to 16.1 plants m°¥² on two irrigation schemes, sub-surface drip and furrow irrigation. This trial was conducted to identify potential growth and developmental changes related to cotton grown at differing plant densities and irrigation schemes.  Yield was shown to be consistently higher for cotton grown on sub-surface drip irrigation when compared to conventional furrow irrigation.  Also, the largest yields were observed among the lower plant densities grown on the sub-surface drip irrigation scheme. Due to the significant amount of rainfall experienced during the growing season, the benefits of irrigation may have potentially been offset.  Utilizing a Smart Field™ system for monitoring canopy temperature and acquiring soil moisture and adding a dryland treatment would also be beneficial to this trial in the future.