Row Cotton Research Articles

Influence of crop development and fruit retention on the timing of crop maturity in Ultra-narrow row cotton

Ultra-narrow row (UNR) cotton, a production system with rows spaced less than 40 cm apart, has been proposed as a system for earlier maturity without substantial yield loss. However, trials in the U.S.A. and Australia have found maturity benefits difficult to achieve consistently. Studies undertaken in high input cotton systems that compared UNR to conventionally (1 m) spaced cotton found yield differences but failed to demonstrate differences in crop maturity. This paper examines crop development and fruiting dynamics of the two systems in more detail to understand why there were no differences in maturity. Results showed that lack of difference in maturity between the row spacings was not influenced by differences in the time to reach crop development stages nor by lower fruit retention of early bolls in the UNR plants. Node production and fruiting site production on a per plant basis were significantly slower in the UNR plants from early in the growing season. Slower node and fruiting site production delayed maturity in the UNR plants as they set fewer fruit within the same period of time compared to plants grown in conventional spaced rows. The number of fruiting sites produced per plant was highly dependent on the amount of dry matter per plant. Fruiting site production was reduced in the UNR crop because each plant produced less total dry matter, and hence plant development was slower. To further help understand the reasons for outcomes generated in these studies, and how UNR could possibly mature earlier without impacting yield, a conceptual modelling framework was developed to integrate seasonal patterns in fruiting site production, retention, and boll growth. A key component of this framework is translating from a per plant basis to an area basis. The analysis showed that for individual UNR plants to mature earlier and maintain yield on an area basis, early node production and fruiting site production must proceed at a similar rate to conventionally spaced crops. In this scenario 90 % of final yield would be present 14 days earlier in the UNR crop compared to conventionally spaced crops. To realise any benefits of potential earlier maturity further research is needed to explore genetic or management interventions that might avoid the early competitive stress response that slows node development in UNR.

Investigating upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) varietal performance in alternative row arrangements in Georgia

AbstractWith grower interest in skip and wide row cotton systems, varietal performance in such systems has become a major question. An experiment was conducted in 2022 and 2023 in Tifton and Midville, GA, evaluating three row arrangements (standard 91‐cm row spacing, 2 × 1 skip row, and 183‐cm row spacing or wide row) and four commercially available varieties (Stoneville [ST] 5091 Bollgard 3 Xtendflex [B3XF], Phytogen [PHY] 400 Widestrike 3 Roundup Flex Enlist [W3FE], DynaGro [DG] 3799 B3XF, and Deltapine [DP] 1840 B3XF). There were no interactions between variety and row arrangement for any response variable, indicating the best variety for standard row spacings would also be the best variety in alternative row arrangements. Plant populations were reduced 32% and 53% in 2 × 1 skip‐row and wide‐row systems, respectively, compared to standard row arrangements, which accomplishes the major goal of these systems in reducing seed cost. Boll rot and hard lock were reduced in wide row treatments only, which could benefit cotton growers in the lower Southeast. However, reductions in lint yield were associated with 2 × 1 skip row (all site years) and wide row arrangements (three out of four site‐years) compared to the grower standard. Differences among varieties were observed in plant heights, lint yield, and fiber quality, which is to be expected. These results confirm much of the work conducted on skip and wide row cotton systems and indicate that for growers in the lower Southeast to achieve maximum lint yields, standard row arrangements are superior to alternative row arrangements.

Investigating the rationale of dimensional elements in the ripper of a combined unit

The article describes a technology for minimizing tillage when growing cotton in rows and calculates the dimensions of the ripper parameters of the combined unit that uses this technology. Based on the results of the experiment, these calculations showed that the ripper's working surface length should not be less than 150 mm and its coverage width should not exceed 140 mm in order to ensure soil softening and prevent ditch compaction beneath the processed layer-by-layer soil structure.

Evaluating the impacts of wide row upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production in Georgia

AbstractSuccess stories of wide row cotton production have generated producer interest across the cotton belt. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of row spacing on (1) cotton growth and development and (2) lint yield and fiber quality in Georgia. The cotton cultivar Deltapine DP 1646 (Bollgard 2, XtendFlex; Bayer Crop Science) was planted in 2021 and 2022 in Tifton, GA, at row spacings of 91 cm, 122 cm, 152 cm, and 183 cm. Although canopy closure was delayed in wider row spacings compared to the 91‐cm spacing, all other crop growth and development trends did not differ among row spacings. Similarly, row spacing had no effect on the incidence of boll rot/hard lock. The 91‐cm row spacing yielded 1734 kg lint ha−1. The 183‐cm row spacing reduced yield by 15% compared with the grower's standard row spacing of 91 cm. Fiber quality parameters did not differ among row spacing treatments. Seed costs can be reduced in all wide row systems evaluated for cotton, and the 122 and 152‐cm row spacings had similar yields to the 91‐cm row spacing. However, Georgia growers produce peanuts (Arachis hypogea L.) and corn (Zea mays L.), the most common rotational crops for cotton producers, using a 91‐cm row spacing. Consequently, the simplest transition to wide row production would be the 183‐cm spacing, which incurred yield penalties in the current study. Thus, a 91‐cm row spacing is still the most feasible option for Georgia cotton producers.

Cultivation system influenced the critical period for weed control in cotton field

BackgroundThe critical period of weed control (CPWC) refers to the period of time during the crop growth cycle when weeds must be controlled to prevent yield losses. Ultra-narrow row (UNR) is a method of planting of cotton in rows that are 25 cm or less apart. Amongst cultural techniques for weed control, the use of narrow row spacing is considered to be a most promising approach that can effectively suppress weed growth and provide greater yields in cotton. This cultivation system can shorten the length of the critical weed-crop interference duration and results in greater yield. The current research aimed to determination of critical time of weed control in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under conventional and ultra-narrow row spacing conditions. Field experiments were arranged as factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Factors were cultivation system (conventional (50 cm row spacing) and ultra narrow row (25 cm row spacing and weed treatment including 30, 45, 60, and 75 days weeding after emergence during the growing season (weed free), and 30, 45, 60, and 75 without weeding (weed infested) in the growing season along with weedy and weed-free from sowing to harvesting. A four-parameter log-logistic model was fit to the two sets of relating relative crop yield to data obtained from increasing durations of weed interference and lengths of weed-free period.ResultsIn both years and cultivation systems, the relative yield of cotton decreased with the increasing duration of weed-interference but increased with the increasing duration of weed-free period. Ultra-narrow row cultivation delayed the beginning of the CPWC in cotton. Under ultra-narrow row condition, the CPWC ranged from 21 to 99 days after germination in 2021 and 23 to 91 days in 2022 based on the 5% acceptable yield loss. Under conventional cultivation CPWC ranged from 17 to 102 days after emergence in 2021 and 18 to 95 days after emergence in 2022.ConclusionsUnder both conventional and Ultra-narrow row conditions, weed interference reduces seed yield. Under ultra-narrow row condition, weed interference until 21.1–23.5 days after cotton emergence and under conventional condition, weed interference until 16.9–18.5 days after cotton emergence had not significant reduction on cotton yield.

THE AMELIORATIVE CONDITION OF THE IRRIGATED LIGHT SEROZEM OF THE TURKESTAN REGION

The relevance of the study is conditioned by the fact that the large-scale irrigation of cotton fields in arid and desert areas of the Turkestan region inevitably leads to the processes of soil salinization. Salinity is a global problem for humanity. Soil salinization is associated with drainage problems, improper use of water resources, growing demand for agricultural products, which leads to increased pressure on agricultural land. In this regard, this paper is directed at investigating the soil salinity of the irrigated light serozem in a cotton farm of Southern Kazakhstan (now Turkestan region) under the vertical drainage, which would provide the necessary background for the reconstruction of the collection-drainage system of the whole region, thus contributing to the increasing the net yield and the quality of the row cotton, as well as preventing soil deterioration. The leading method for studying the issues of the article was the dispersion method, according to which the salinity of soils was determined by seasons. The main objectives were studying the dynamics of salts changes seasonally and timely under the vertical drainage and studying the spatial distribution of salts in the cotton-based farm. The results showed that in 2014 there was recorded a positive dynamic of changes compared to 2012. In spring 2014, the area under medium saline soil in the 0-20 cm layer decreased from 79.5 to 57.7 %; the weakly saline soil area increased from 20.5 to 34.6 %. In the autumn and winter periods, the area of strongly saline soils decreased from 25.6 to 14.1 %. The area of non-saline soils was recorded at 7.7 %. The results showed that changes in the amount of the ions, both vertically and seasonally, occur with the transport of salts along with soil profile under the influence of temperature gradients and the level of groundwater, i.e., in spring from up to down, and in autumn and winter, contrary from down to up. The theoretical and practical value of the study lies in the fact that the material for improving, preventing the salinization of soils will lead to an increase in the general level of ecological safety of the region and country in general.

Performance evaluation of manually operated single row cotton planter

A proper placement of seed in field is most important operation in order to obtain optimum yield of crop. In India about 75 % of the land holders are small and marginal land holding capacity. Considering the limitations due to costly seed, traditional method of manual dibbling, labour shortage and small marginal land holding pattern there is need of small manual planter for small and marginal land holders. Cotton, the white gold, is the king of textile, fibers and it is an important worldwide cash crop. The sowing of cotton is labour intensive as its planting requires 3-4 man days/ha. In view of the above, the single row cotton planter was tested in laboratory as well as in field as per IS code: 6316-1993 with specific objectives. The cost of planting cotton by manually method is approximately 600 to 700 Rs/ha, whereas the cost by this machine is 470 Rs/ha. The field evaluation of manually cotton planter was done at speed of 1.72 km/hr with field capacity of 0.170 ha/hr and field efficiency of 82.49 %. The seed uniformity of cotton planter was observed higher as compared to manual sowing. The average labour requirement for sowing cotton in manually operated cotton planter was 6.82 man hr/ha.

English

The large scale cultivation of cotton in the Cerrado areas was made possible by large investments in technology, particularly in mechanized harvesting, which makes the business viable. However, the use of harvesters causes qualitative and quantitative losses to the final product, reducing the profitability of production. This study aimed to evaluate the fiber characteristics of narrow row cotton using harvesting Pro-12 VRS picker and stripper. The experiment was conducted on a farm in the municipalities of Sorriso in the 2014 agricultural season. The experimental design was randomized blocks with seven replicates. The treatments consisted of five harvesting systems: Pro-12 VRS picker, finger stripper with and without field cleaner and brush stripper with and without field cleaner. The efficiency of the harvester was quantified by determining the yield and total loss. Impurities in the harvested cotton were quantified by determining the percentage of bark and stem present in the sample. The following technological fiber characteristics were analyzed through the HVI tool: Trash, UHM, SFC, Elg, Mic, +b, Rd, UI and STR. Cotton in hardened management system has less trash content when harvested with the Pro-12 VRS picker. The Pro-12 VRS picker, however, failed to preserve the intrinsic quality of the fiber. Key words: Harvester’s cotton, platforms picker, fiber cotton characteristics. &nbsp

Effects of Tillage and Planting Methods on Narrow and Wide Row Cotton Production

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an economically important crop for the Southern United States. The southern US also has a long growing season suitable for double cropping a second crop after small grains; however, the harvest date for the small grains typically occurs after the optimum planting window for cotton which reduces yield potential. A relay intercropping system was developed at Clemson University that allows interseeding of cotton into standing wheat 2 to 3 weeks before harvest with interseeded cotton yields similar to the conventional mono-cropped cotton. Therefore, the objectives of this study were 1) to determine the optimum tillage and planting methods for narrow row (76-cm) and wide row (97-cm) cotton, and 2) to compare narrow and wide row systems for conventional tillage cotton, cotton interseeded into standing wheat, and cotton planted into a terminated wheat cover crop on coastal plain soil. Two replicated tests were conducted to accomplish these objectives. In Study 1, conventional narrow row cotton combined with a deep tillage operation using Paratill yielded 23% more than conventional wide row cotton which had a deep tillage operation with a subsoiler just before planting. There were no differences between the conventional (97-cm row spacing) mono-crop and interseeded cotton yields. In Study 2, there was no significant difference in yield between narrow-row and wide-row cotton for each cropping system during the two years study. Both wide and narrow-row full season cotton had significantly higher yields than interseeded and cover crop planting systems in year two of the study. The two conservation cropping practices, wheat used as a cover crop and interseeding, showed considerable promise for reducing energy requirements, soil erosion, and wind-borne cotton damage associated with bare soil in conventional tillage. This research demonstrates the benefits of interseeding and narrow row spacing for sustainable cotton production in coastal plain soils of the Southern United States.

Effects of variable-row-spacing harvesting picker platform scraping plates on cotton fiber quality and quantity

There have been increasing demands for high-quality cotton fibers that meet the textile industry quality standards. Concurrently, there have been efforts to reduce contaminants during harvesting to reduce harvesting costs. The goal of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of the picker platform with Variable-Row-Spacing (VRS) for harvesting cotton in narrow rows, over two harvest seasons in two regions within the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. In this study, how the presence vs. absence of scraping plates and variations in travel speed was related to quantifiable levels of impurities the harvested fibers was examined. The research was divided into three experiments (Exp. I, II, and III), using cotton varieties FM 975 WS, IMA 5672 B2 RF, and IMA 5675 B2 RF, with row spacing of 0.45 m. The experimental design was randomized blocks, in a 2 ? 3 factorial design, using the presence/absence of the plate and three speeds (0.61, 1.0, and 1.42 m·s-¹), with seven repetitions, totaling 42 experimental plots. The plot size was 108 m² (3.6 ? 30 m). The data were analyzed using the F test in ANOVA and the post-hoc Tukey test (p < 0.05). The results showed that scraping plates increased the number of stems and cones, and reduced the harvest efficiency of cotton planted in narrow rows in the region of Sorriso-MT during the 2013/2014 harvest. For the 2014/2015 harvest, the highest speed and the presence of the scraping plates increased the number of cones in the cotton samples. In the experiment conducted in Serra da Petrovina, the removal of the scraping plates decreased the amount of cones in the harvested cotton.

Economic Analysis and Feasibility of Tractor Operated Cotton Harvesters

India is the first country in having a maximum area under cotton crop, second in yarn production and third in raw cotton production in the world. However, entire cotton is picked by human labour involving about 517 man h/ha. A 3-row finger type cotton stripper and single row cotton picker have been developed indigenously and the cost economics has been calculated as per the standard procedure to determine the feasibility and economic viability of the machines. It has been estimated that the break-even point (BEP) calculated on an area basis for a cotton stripper and cotton picker was 1255 and 1543 ha respectively. The payback period calculated on year basis for the cotton stripper and cotton picker was found 3.17 and 6.43 years respectively. Cost of harvesting done by the cotton stripper and cotton picker can save cost up to 57.48 and 44.42 percent respectively as compared to the hand picking.

Performance evaluation of sigle row manual cotton planter

A proper placement of seed in field is most important operation in order to obtain optimum yield of crop. Day by day the land fragmentation was increased and which resulted near about 65 pre cent of the land holders are small and marginal land holding capacity in the region. Considering the limitations due to costly seed, traditional method of manual dibbling, labour shortage and small marginal land holding pattern there is need of small manual planter for small and marginal land holders. In view of the above, the manually operated seed planter was tested at Deptt. of Farm Power and Machinery, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. A single row cotton planter was evaluated for performance by conducting laboratory and field tests. In laboratory test calibration of planter for seed rate, uniformity of seed planting and percentage of seed damage was determined at three cell plate, two gear ratio and level of seed in hopper. Based on the laboratory test cell plate, gear ratio and level of seed in hopper were selected for field test. The three trials of planter were taken for planting Bt-cotton crop. The field tests comprised of determination of effective field capacity, average depth of placement of seeds in the furrows and mean spacing of seeds within each row. The rate of work was observed to be in the range of 0.18 to 0.21 ha/h at forward speed of 2.24 to 2.5 km/h in well prepared seed bed along with the opened furrows. The average depth of planting was observed in the range of 4.5 cm to 5cm. The field efficiency of the planter was observed in the range of 88.88 to 91.1 per cent.

Épocas de semeadura, cultivares e densidades de plantas para algodão adensado em segunda safra

RESUMO O cultivo de algodoeiro adensado em segunda safra, em ambiente não irrigado, após soja ou feijão, tem aumentado no Cerrado do Centro-Oeste brasileiro. Com essa mudança de época de semeadura, as plantas de algodão estão mais expostas a condições climáticas adversas. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de cultivares, densidades de plantas e épocas de semeadura sobre a produção de algodão. Os experimentos foram realizados em três anos consecutivos. Em cada ano, os tratamentos foram constituídos por duas épocas de semeadura (segunda quinzena de janeiro e primeira quinzena de fevereiro), cultivares (ciclo precoce e médio) e densidades de plantas (8,9-33,3 plantas m-2). O algodão foi semeado em segunda safra, após a colheita de soja precoce. Em cada época de semeadura, os experimentos foram instalados no delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em parcelas subdivididas, com o fator cultivar disposto na parcela e a densidade na subparcela. A produtividade do algodoeiro em segunda safra foi pouco influenciada pelas densidades de plantas e cultivares. A semeadura tardia do algodoeiro reduziu a altura de plantas, número de capulhos por área e produtividade de fibra. Com o atraso na data de semeadura, a produtividade de fibra diminuiu aproximadamente 25 %, 17 % e 41 %, respectivamente em 2009, 2010 e 2011. O fator mais determinante para o cultivo do algodoeiro em segunda safra é a época de semeadura.

Nitrogen fertilization in narrow row cotton productivity in second harvest

The narrow row cotton grown in the second harvest is presented as an alternative in order to reduce cost of production due to lower cycle. However, nitrogen fertilization in this growing season is little studied. The objective was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen in narrow row cotton crop, grown in second harvest after bean. The experiments were set in a randomized block design with 4 treatments and 5 repetitions in the agricultural years 2009/10 and 2010/11. The treatments consisted of nitrogen application in coverage broad­casted in the form of urea at rates of 60, 80, 100 and 120 kg ha -1 N in two years of cultivation. It was con­cluded that the nitrogen rate of approximately 85 kg ha -1 applied in coverage in narrow row cotton, grown in second season, increases the number of bolls per plant, boll mass and cotton yield productivity. Additional keywords: calibration curve, yield; cultural practices; Gossypium hirsutum L.; Savanna.

Effect of planting arrangements on productivity of cotton + mungbean intercropping systems

An experiment was conducted at the Cotton Research Farm, Sreepur, Gazipur during 2009-10 growing season to maximize the benefit of cotton + mungbean intercropping system through appropriate planting arrangement of component crops in the system. Performance of eight different planting arrangements, such as 1, 2, 3 and 4 rows of mungbean in between single row of cotton and 4, 5, 6 and 7 rows of mungbean in between paired row cotton ware compared against their sole cropping. Intercropping and mungbean density reduced individual yield of cotton and mungbean compared to their sole cropping but increased equivalent yield of both cotton and mungbean. The highest seed cotton (2951 kg ha-1) and mungbean (3373 kg ha-1) equivalent yield was recorded from the paired row cotton +4-row mungbean. The land equivalent ratio of the same combination indicated 31% yield advantage over sole cropping. The same plating arrangement also recorded the highest gross return (Tk. 118039 ha-1), gross margin (Tk. 60220 ha-1) and BCR (2.04). Thus, the panting arrangement of paired row cotton and 4 rows of mungbean could be grown for higher productivity and economic return in the system.Bangladesh Agron. J. 2014, 17(1): 11-22

TRENDS IN TEXTILE MARKET AND QUALITY OF COTTON, PRODUCED IN RUSSIA

Textile and its raw fibers composition play an important role in developing of healthy lifestyle. Cotton is main natural fiber for produce cloth. Statistic world wide data in cotton production and consumption, its content in ready made textile supermarkets offer of RF and EU as well have been evaluated. Cotton fibers properties (HVI and RF standards) and its correlations studied. It’s concluded that the most popular natural fiber is cotton. The rate of cotton textile is 57% in total assortment. Industrial cotton cultivars as well resourcesaving technologies of cultivation developed in Southern RF in order to establish local cotton production to meet demand of textile industry to process cotton of various natural color. It’s evaluated that the reduce of micronairecorrelated with reduce of strength of long fiber. It’s shown that theyield of row cotton per plant is not less in Astrakhanprovince of RF, compared with cotton produced in some provinces of Uzbekistan.

EFFECT OF ROW SPACING ON THE YIELD OF COTTON CULTIVARS

ABSTRACT Modern cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars with herbicide resistance have rejuvenated an interest in narrow row cotton production, primarily because of the reduction of weed control problems encountered in the past with narrow row systems. While the primary goal of narrow row cotton is to reduce production costs, an agronomic and physiological evaluation of this cropping system is also needed. The objectives of this study were to determine the feasibility of using modern cotton cultivars in narrow rows (30 cm) for cotton production in the Gonabad and to assess the effect of these various systems on cotton growth, lint yield, and fiber quality. Plant height, sympodia and total bolls per plant were reduced in cotton grown in narrow row spacing. In most cases, cotton grown in narrow rows had lint yields equal to or higher than those attained in the 70 cm spacing. modern cultivars in narrow row cotton production did not improve lint yield. No conclusions could be made regarding the impact of plant stature on lint yield. Row spacing had little impact on fiber quality narrow row cotton appeared to be a viable agronomic cotton production practice for the Gonabad compared with conventionally - grown cotton based upon lint yield and fiber quality.

Physiological determinants of high yielding ultra-narrow row cotton: Biomass accumulation and partitioning

Ultra-narrow row (UNR) cotton, may have the potential for increased yields in high yielding, high-input production systems. Attaining higher yields in UNR cotton relative to conventionally spaced crops must depend on either increased biomass production or partitioning to fruit. We compared biomass production and partitioning in UNR treatments (25cm spaced rows) to that of treatments with conventionally spaced rows (100cm) in high yielding, high-input production systems (where lint yield was greater than 1800kgha−1). Early biomass accumulation was faster in the UNR crop (36 plantsm−2) compared to the conventionally spaced treatments (12 plantsm−2) but slowed later in the season. Despite a three fold increase in plant density in the UNR treatments total dry matter production per unit area was not different to the conventionally spaced treatments. On a per plant basis dry matter accumulation was slower and total biomass production was significantly lower in the UNR crops. This was accompanied by a decrease in boll size, suggesting that competition for resources was limiting crop growth. These differences were significant across three seasons. However, the increase in yield in the UNR crops was obtained through increased partitioning of dry matter to fruit compared to the conventionally spaced crops, resulting in higher boll numbers and increased lint yield in high-input UNR production systems. As there were no differences between row spacings in total water use or nitrogen uptake, investigations are continuing to determining the key determinants limiting crop growth and biomass production in high-input UNR production systems.

Physiological determinants of high yielding ultra-narrow row cotton: Canopy development and radiation use efficiency

Ultra-narrow row cotton (UNR, with rows spaced less than 40cm apart) has long been proposed to have the potential to increase yields while reducing the time to crop maturity. Investigations have shown that biomass accumulation in high-input, high yielding UNR (25cm spaced rows with yields greater than 1800kglintha−1) cotton is similar to conventionally spaced rows (100cm) despite a three-fold increase in plant density, indicating a limitation on individual plant growth. This study investigates whether the increased plant density in UNR crops (36plantsm−2) leads to differences in canopy development, radiation use efficiency (RUE) and light interception contributing to plant growth limitations. Three experiments over three years compared UNR treatments to conventionally spaced treatments in high-input production systems and found that early canopy development (leaf area index LAI) and consequently early interception was higher in the UNR crops in two of the three experiments. This resulted in a 17% higher seasonal canopy extinction coefficient (k) in UNR crops over the season. However, seasonal RUE of the UNR crop was 19% lower as increases in light interception were not accompanied by increased total dry matter. Light distribution through the canopy was poorer (higher k) in the UNR crop and LAI continued to increase in the UNR crop after maximum light interception was reached, which combined with a lower leaf nitrogen concentration may have reduced the photosynthetic efficiency of the UNR crop. We conclude that differences in canopy light interception and the efficiency of conversion of light to biomass were the primary factors responsible for differences in the pattern of biomass accumulation between UNR and conventionally spaced cotton.

Water, sediment, and metolachlor transport differences between wide- and narrow-row cotton production systems

Planting cotton (Gossypium hirsutum [L.]) in narrow rather than wide rows could reduce erosion and off-site agrochemical transport, but this hypothesis needs to be evaluated under midsouth cropping conditions. Field studies were conducted near Stoneville, Mississippi, on a Dundee silty clay loam in 2006 and 2007 to evaluate sediment, water, and metolachlor (2-chloro-N-[2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl]-N-[2-methoxy-1-methylethyl] acetamide) loss in narrow (38 cm [15 in]) and wide-row (102 cm [40 in]) cotton. One day after a postemergence metolachlor application over four- to six-leaf stage cotton, 60 mm h−1 (2.4 in hr−1) of simulated rainfall was applied until 25 min of runoff was generated per plot. Sediment loss, regardless of year, was at least 38% lower from narrow-row than wide-row cotton. Depending on year, planting cotton on narrow rows either had no effect or reduced cumulative runoff by 25%, compared to the wide-row system. Cumulative metolachlor loss was 27% higher in narrow-row relative to wide-row cotton in 2006, but the trend was reversed in 2007. Our results indicate that nearly flat seedbeds in narrow-row systems can reduce sediment loss relative to wide-row cotton planted on slightly raised seedbeds. Moreover, planting cotton in narrow rows rather than wide rows may reduce the loss of metolachlor applied postemergence if cumulative runoff is reduced in the narrow-row system and factors governing mixing-zone pesticide concentrations are similar between row spacings, primarily canopy coverage, and antecedent soil moisture conditions.