EFFECT OF IRRIGATION ON YIELD AND FIBER QUALITY IN COTTON CULTIVARS

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to evaluate seed cotton yield, fiber yield, and fiber quality traits of cotton cultivars grown under different irrigation levels in Brazil. The experiment was conducted over two years in the region of Apodi - RN, with sprinkler irrigation. Treatments comprised of 4 irrigation levels i.e., 130, 100, 70 and 40 % of the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and 4 cotton cultivars i.e., FiberMax 993, BRS 286, BRS 336 and BRS 335. The experimental design was factorial with randomized complete block design and four replicates. Yield, lint percent and fiber quality traits determined were evaluated. Different responses were observed for cultivars at various irrigation levels. Cultivars grown under limited irrigation exhibited a decline in the seed cotton yield, lint percent, and fiber quality. Cultivars with the highest yield and lint percent were FiberMax 993 and BRS 286. Within irrigation level of 40 % ETc, the medium fiber cultivars produced short fibers whereas the long fiber cultivar, BRS 336, produced medium fiber length. Overall, the different levels of water deficits did not significantly affect fiber quality of the four cultivars tested as all fiber quality traits remained acceptable for the domestic textile industry.

摘要：本研究旨在评估巴西不同灌溉水平下种植的棉花品种的籽棉产量、纤维产量及纤维品质性状。本试验于阿波迪-RN地区开展，为期两年，采用喷灌方式。试验设置4个灌溉水平，分别为作物蒸发蒸腾量（ETc）的130%、100%、70%与40%，以及4个供试棉花品种：FiberMax 993、BRS 286、BRS 336及BRS 335。试验采用随机完全区组因子设计，设置4次重复。研究对产量、衣分及测定的纤维品质性状进行了评价。结果显示，不同灌溉水平下各供试品种呈现出差异化响应。限灌条件下种植的品种，其籽棉产量、衣分及纤维品质均出现下降。产量与衣分最高的品种为FiberMax 993与BRS 286。在40% ETc的灌溉水平下，中等纤维长度品种会产出短纤维，而长纤维品种BRS 336则产出中等长度纤维。总体而言，不同程度的水分亏缺并未对供试4个棉花品种的纤维品质造成显著影响，所有纤维品质性状均满足国内纺织工业的使用要求。