Quantifying the Effects of Water Deficit Stress Timing on Cotton Growth and Yield Under Rain-Sheltered Controlled Conditions

The cotton plant may show a different response to water deficits in terms of growth, yield and yield components, depending on the growth stage the water deficit (WDS) is imposed. A study was conducted in the Drought Tolerance Laboratory at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Corpus Christi during the 2014 cotton growing-season to quantify the effect of water deficits applied at different growth stages. The study consisted of 4 treatments (fully irrigated throughout the season - control, stressed from match-head to first bloom, stressed from first bloom to mid bloom, and stressed from mid bloom to first cracked boll) in a complete randomized design with 4 replications. The results indicate that the timing of the WDS causes alterations in development of the vegetative framework of the plant, which, ultimately, affects its yield potential.