Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Response of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to partial defoliation at different growth stages in a semi-arid tropical environment
Author(s):
Vincent B. Ogunlela *,
Ehiabhi C. OdionRecieved Date: 2006-06-28, Accepted Date: 2006-09-22
Abstract:A field experiment was conducted at Samaru, Nigeria, during the 1996-98 cropping seasons to study the response of upland cotton to partial defoliation applied at different growth stages. Treatments were factorial combination of four defoliation intensities (non-defoliated check, mild 20%, moderate 40% and severe 60% defoliation) and four growth stages (6, 9, 12 and 15 weeks after planting, WAP). Growth stage at the time of defoliation had no significant effect on cotton yield parameters but significantly influenced vegetative parameters such as branches per plant and plant height. Pre-flowering stages were more sensitive to defoliation than post-flowering stages. Severe defoliation caused some 20-22% yield reductions while mild defoliation enhanced cotton yield slightly. The crop responded more to defoliation treatments in 1996 than in 1997 and 1998. Ginning out-turn, bolls per plant, seed cotton per plant, boll mass, fruiting points per plant, as well as seed characters did not respond to treatments. Growth stage x defoliation intensity interaction was significant for number of bolls per plant. Mild defoliation at 15 WAP and severe defoliation at 6 WAP were similar in their effects as each caused some 32% reduction in boll number. Simulating insect defoliation appears to be a reliable tool for precise quantification of crop injury and host responses.
Keywords:Upland cotton,
Gossypium hirsutum L., defoliation, growth stage, semi-arid, tropical environmentJournal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2006
Volume: 4
Issue: 3&4
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 157-161
Full text for Subscribers
Information:
Note to users
The requested document is freely available only to subscribers/registered users with an online subscription to the Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment. If you have set up a personal subscription to this title please enter your user name and password. All abstracts are available for free.
Article purchasing
If you like to purchase this specific document such as article, review or this journal issue, contact us. Specify the title of the article or review, issue, number, volume and date of the publication. Software and compilation, Science & Technology, all rights reserved. Your use of this website details or service is governed by terms of use. Authors are invited to check from time to time news or information.
Purchase this Article: 20 Purchase PDF Order Reprints for 15
Share this article :