Evaluation of Irrigation Termination Affects on Upland Cotton, 1997

A single field study was conducted in 1997 at the Maricopa Agricultural Center (1,175ft. elevation) to evaluate the effects of three dates of irrigation termination on the yield of a common Upland cotton variety (DP NuCOTN 33b). Planting date was 9 April (668 HU /Jan 1 86/55° F thresholds. Three dates of irrigation termination (IT1, IT2, and IT3) were imposed based upon crop development into cut -out. The earliest irrigation termination date, IT1 (7 August) was made as early as possible in an attempt to provide sufficient soil - water such that bolls set at the end of the first fruiting cycle would not be water stressed and could be fully matured. The second termination (IT2) date was 20 August, and provided one additional irrigation over IT1. The final (IT3) date was 17 September, which was staged so that soil moisture would be sufficient for development of bolls set up through the last week of September and provide full top-crop potential. Lint yield results revealed no differences among any of the IT treatments. Mirconaire values increased slightly with later IT dates.