Effect of Planting Date on the Yield and Fiber Properties of Three Cotton Cultivars1

Abstract

AbstractFor a number of reasons, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cannot always be planted at the most optimum time. Because information was needed relative to the effects of different planting dates on the yields and fiber properties of various types of cultivars, we studied for 5 years the responses of three cotton cultivars to planting dates. The planting dates each year were approximately April 20, June 1, June 10, June 20, and June 30.As planting date was delayed, yields, lint percentages, fiber lengths, and micronaire units were reduced, and fiber strength was increased. Fiber elongation was not significantly affected by planting date. Yields, lint percentages, and fiber fineness varied significantly from year to year; and the years × planting date interactions were significant for all measured characters.Averaged over all tests, differences among cultivars were significant for all characters studied. Although the relative performance of the cultivars was rather consistent (nonsignificant mean squares for cultivars × years, and cultivars × planting dates) over the range of environmental conditions encountered, generally the earlier the maturity of a cultivar, the less its yields and fiber properties were adversely affected by late plantings.