INFLUENCE OF GROWTH REGULATORS AND FERTILIZERS ON COTTON YIELD AND PLANT BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

The effect of the plant regulator Mepiquat chloride (PIXᵀᴹ) (1,1-dimethyl-piperidinium chloride), in the early flowering stage, and combinations with soil and foliar application of fertilizers was investigated through seven field experiments conducted in 1982 and 1983 at three University of Arizona experimental locations. Three upland cotton cultivars (Gossypium hirsutum L.), 'Deltapine 55', '61' and '62' were used. Cotton yield, boll properties, fiber properties, leaf chlorophyll content, plant height, plant partitioning and maturity were investigated. Petiole nitrate, leaf area index (LAI) and LAI interrelationship with yield were also included in this study. The use of PIX resulted in an increase in seed cotton yield and boll weight in one of the experiments, while fiber properties did not show any significant response to either PIX or fertilizers. PIX, however, had the tendency to enhance maturity by about 1 week. Use of PIX reduced plant height in all tested cultivars at all locations. The reduction in plant height ranged from 7 to 28% depending on the cultivar, location and the amount of PIX applied. The chlorophyll a and b content of leaves increased significantly as a result of PIX application in two of four tests, while their ratio decreased. Leaf area index between treatments were not significantly different except at one sampling date. In a regression study, however, yield was found to be related positively to LAI when soil and foliar application of fertilizer were added, while it was negative when PIX was applied. Neither PIX nor BALANCEᵀᴹ (1:18:18:1) application affected plant partitioning nor petiole nitrate concentration at most of the sampling dates.