Impacts of Potassium Fertilization on New Glandless Cotton Cultivars Developed for New Mexico

New glandless cotton cultivars have been developed for New Mexico environments, with the intent to optimize lint and seed yields, as well as the fiber quality. However, these new cultivars need to be tested for their response to agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and irrigation water, since these are very critical limiting resources for arid crop production. Three new glandless cotton cultivars (NuMex COT 15 GLS, Acala 1517-18 GLS and NM 13P1117), were evaluated and compared with two old glandless cotton cultivars (Acala-GLS and STV Glandless) at two potassium fertilizer application rates (120 kg K₂O/ha and 240 kg K₂O/ha). Results show significant effects of cultivar on lint yield, with NM 13P1117 having the highest lint yield. Potassium rate effect was significant for all the yield parameters, with the potassium rate of 240 kg K₂O/ha leading to an average of 42% higher yields compared to the rate of 120 kg K₂O/ha. Fiber quality was significant with cultivar, with the Acala cultivars (Acala 1517-18 GLS and Acala GLS) generally having better fiber qualities than the rest of the cultivars tested. However, potassium rate effect was not significant on fiber quality, and the interaction effect between cultivar and potassium rate was mostly not significant on both yield and fiber quality.