Effect of Plant Nitrogen Status on Effectiveness of Defoliants for Short Season Cotton Production

Abstract

A field study was conducted at the Maricopa Agricultural Center to determine the influence of nitrogen fertility level on the effectiveness of defoliants for short-season cotton production. Increasing the nitrogen fertility level from 30 to 130 lbs N/A decreased lint yields from 3.2 to 26 bales /A. High residual soil N favored the use of a low N fertility rate. Defoliation treatments were most effective at the 30 lbs. N/A fertility level. Increasing the application rate of Dropp from 0.2 to 0.4 lbs. a.i./A increased the percent defoliation. There was a significant linear decrease in the effectiveness of defoliants as the petiole NO₃-N content increased from 300 to 7000 ppm.