Factors Influencing Yield and Quality of Mississippi Delta Cotton

Abstract

ABSTRACT RESEARCH was conducted in 1983 and 1984 to evaluate the effect of varieties, harvest timing, and level of lint cleaning on cotton yield and fiber quality. The varieties included two smooth leaf types and three hairy leaf types. The major factor influencing yield in this study was year (environment). The average lint yield in 1983 was 1071 kg/ha and 1403 kg/ha in 1984. There was little difference between once-over harvest and twice-over harvest in 1983; 1070 vs 1083 kg/ha, respectively. In 1984, twice-over averaged 56 kg/ha more than once-over. The analysis indicated that the number of lint cleaners had a large effect on net yield. The average yield over all tests for 0, 1, 2, and 3 lint cleaners was 1240, 1194, 1172, and 1150 kg/ha. Cotton quality factors were highly influenced by the degree of weathering (rainfall) the open cotton received, by the level of lint cleaning, and by variety. Rainfall reduced quality primarily through a reduction in color, lint cleaning increased grade, and the smooth leaf varieties produced higher grades than the hairy leaf types.