Lint Yield and Yield Components of Cotton Cultivars From Four Decades When Grown Under Three Water Regimes

Lint Yield and Yield Components of Cotton Cultivars from Four Decades When Grown Under Three Water Regimes C.T. Oliver1, 2, G.L. Ritchie2, 3, J.K. Dever3, J.M. Rieff1, and D.L. Auld2, 3 1Phytogen Cotton Genetics, Lubbock 79416, 2Plant and Soil Science Department, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-2122, and 3Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Lubbock, TX 79403; The objective of our study was to determine if increased lint yield and fiber quality had differentially impacted yield components in eight commercial cotton cultivar grown over the past four decades. The cultivars were grown under different water regimes to help us develop effective strategies for further advancing cotton lint yields and fiber quality with less water inputs on the Texas South Plains. We chose cotton cultivars that were popular and proven over the pasts four decades (1980-2012). We chose Fiber Max 9180 B2RF (2000-2010), Fiber Max 2989 GLB2 (2012), Fiber Max 989 (2000-2012), Fiber Max 958 (2002-2012), Delta Pineland 104 B2RF (2010), Phytogen 375 WRF (2009), Phytogen 355 (2000), and PayMaster HS-26 (1983-2000). The three irrigation treatments were 0.20 inches per day (high), 0.12 inches per day (moderate) and 0.02 inches per day (low). Irrigation regimes were randomized over three sets of eight row zones of subsurface drip. Each of the eight cultivars were randomized throughout the irrigation treatments and replicated four times. Data included nodes above white flower, plant height, lint yield, percent lint, HVI fiber quality, and box mapping to determine fruiting structure and a positional yield contribution.