Evaluation of Irrigation Termination Effects on Fiber Micronaire and Yield of Upland Cotton, 2000

Abstract

Arizona has experienced a trend toward increasing fiber micronaire values in recent years resulting in substantial discounts on fiber value. There is some evidence to suggest that irrigation termination management can impact fiber micronaire. A single field study was conducted in 2000 at the Maricopa Agricultural Center (1,175ft. elevation) to evaluate the effects of three dates of irrigation termination on the yield of 13 Upland cotton varieties. Planting date was 6 April (668 HU/Jan 1 86/55° F thresholds). Three dates of irrigation termination (IT1, IT2, and IT3) were imposed based upon crop development into cutout. The earliest irrigation termination date, IT1 (24 July) was made slightly ahead of an optimum date to provide sufficient soil-water such that bolls set at the end of the first fruiting cycle would not be water stressed and could be fully matured. Thus, the IT1 date was imposed to try to reduce overall micronaire. The second termination (IT2) date was 17 August, and provided one additional irrigation over an optimal point for the first cycle fruit set and two irrigations beyond IT1. The final (IT3) date was 15 September, which was staged so that soil moisture would be sufficient for the development of bolls set up through the last week of September thus providing full top-crop potential. Lint yield and micronaire results revealed significant differences among the IT treatments. Micronaire and lint yield values increased with later IT dates.