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Title: FIBER QUALITY RESPONSE OF PIMA COTTON TO NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS DEFICIENCY

Author
item Tewolde, Haile
item FERNANDEZ, C - TEXAS A&M UNIVESITY

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/31/2002
Publication Date: 1/1/2003
Citation: TEWOLDE, H., FERNANDEZ, C.J. FIBER QUALITY RESPONSE OF PIMA COTTON TO NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS DEFICIENCY. JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION. 2003. v.26.p.223-235.

Interpretive Summary: Excessive growth of foliage and stalks in Pima cotton often leads to delayed maturity. Limiting the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers applied to Pima cotton can prevent excess growth and lead to early harvest. This study evaluated whether such fertilizer deficiencies affect fiber properties, because the value of Pima cotton depends on producing high quality fiber. The study was conducted on the most commonly grown Pima cotton variety - `S-7'. The results indicated that severe nitrogen or phosphorus deficiency reduces fiber quality including fiber length, strength, and thickness. Moderate level of nitrogen or phosphorus deficiency, however, did not affect fiber quality. We conclude that nitrogen or phosphorus deficiency severe enough to reduce fiber quality that affects marketing of Pima cotton is unlikely to be encountered under normal Pima cotton production practices.

Technical Abstract: Imposing a moderate level of nutrient deficiency may be an effective management strategy to limit vegetative growth and enhance maturity of Pima cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.). Whether such deficiency affects fiber quality of American Pima cotton, however, is not well known. A field study was conducted in 1991 and 1992 to determine the fiber quality responses of Pima cotton to nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization ranging between deficient and excess. Pima cotton cv. `S-7' was treated with nitrogen rates ranging between 0 and 269 kg ha-1 in a factorial combination with phosphorus rates ranging between 0 and 44 kg ha-1. Fiber property measurements included fiber length, strength, fineness, elongation, and color properties. Increasing rate of applied nitrogen significantly (P < 0.05) increased fiber length, elongation, micronaire, and color characteristics and reduced fiber uniformity ratio in 1991. Increasing nitrogen rate significantly (P < 0.10) increased fiber length, uniformity index, and yellowness in 1992, when the degree of nitrogen deficiency imposed by the lowest nitrogen rate was not as severe as the deficiency imposed by the same treatment in 1991. Phosphorus did not significantly (P < 0.10) affect any of the important fiber properties - length, strength, or micronaire - in either cropping season. Our results indicate moderate level of nitrogen or phosphorus deficiency does not affect Pima cotton fiber quality. Nitrogen or phosphorus deficiency severe enough to reduce fiber quality and affect marketing of Pima cotton is unlikely to be encountered under normal Pima cotton production practices.