RESPONSE OF AN EARLY COTTON VARIETY TO NITROGEN RATE AND IRRIGATION

Abstract

Cotton varieties grown in México are late and have a high vegetative development. In order to get their potential lint yield these varieties require high water volumes and investment. Late varieties are not suitable for arid regions like La Comarca Lagunera, México, where water is limited. The objective of this study was to determine the best nitrogen rate and irrigations to get high yields using an early variety (Laguna 89). Irrigation treatments were two, three, and four irrigations, while nitrogen rates were: 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, and 200 kg ha^-1, arranged in a split plot design. Seed and lint cotton yield, earliness, yield components, and fiber quality, were measured. Irrigating three and four times showed the best seed and lint cotton yield. These two treatments outyielded the two irrigation treatment by 44 %. Seed and lint cotton yield, yield components and crop earliness were not affected by nitrogen rate. Only the nitrogen control treatment showed less fiber strength. No interaction was round between nitrogen rate and irrigation.