Abstract
The number of cotton plants grown per unit area has recently gained attention due to technology expense, high input, and seed cost. Yield consistency across a series of plant populations is an attractive cost-saving option. Field experiments were conducted to compare biomass accumulation, fiber quality, leaf area index, yield and yield components of cotton planted at various densities (D1, 1.5; D2, 3.3; D3, 5.1; D4, 6.9; D5, 8.7; and D6, 10.5 plants m−2). High planting density (D5) produced 21% and 28% more lint yield as compared to low planting density (D1) during both years, respectively. The highest seed cotton yield (4662 kg/ha) and lint yield (1763 kg/ha) were produced by high plant density (D5) while the further increase in the plant population (D6) decreased the yield. The increase in yield of D5 was due to more biomass accumulation in reproductive organs as compared to other treatments. The highest average (19.2 VA gm m−2 d−1) and maximum (21.8 VM gm m−2 d−1) rates of biomass were accumulated in reproductive structures. High boll load per leaf area and leaf area index were observed in high planting density as compared to low, while high dry matter partitioning was recorded in the lowest planting density as compared to other treatments. Plants with low density had 5% greater fiber length as compared to the highest plant density, while the fiber strength and micronaire value were 10% and 15% greater than the lowest plant density. Conclusively, plant density of 8.7 plants m−2 is a promising option for enhanced yield, biomass, and uniform fiber quality of cotton.
Highlights
Cotton is an important cash crop grown worldwide as a major source of fiber [1]
Seed cotton yield and lint yield along with yield components were significantly affected by plant density except boll weight and lint percentage in both years (Tables 1 and 2)
Highest seed cotton yield of 4662 kg ha−1 and highest lint yield 1763 kg ha−1 was produced by D5, which was followed by D4, D6, D3, D2, and D1
Summary
Cotton is an important cash crop grown worldwide as a major source of fiber [1]. Cotton is perennial but commercially grown as an annual crop and has indeterminate growth. China is the largest cotton-producing country in the world by contributing about 30% of the world’s cotton production [2]. Henan Province is one of the major cotton growing provinces of China, with more than 400 thousand hectares of land [3]. Plant density determination is one of the most important practices for increasing yield of cotton [4]. Plant density is the key factor for optimizing structures and increasing the photosynthetic capacity of the cotton canopy. High planting density has become common in cotton production systems. It has been reported that both too high and too low plant density reduces
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