Cotton Fruiting as Affected by Soil Moisture Regime¹

Synopsis Fruit production of cotton plants grown in plots maintained within 0.16 to 0.33 atmosphere mean soil moisture tension range until 6 weeks past first bloom followed by 2 weeks in the range 0.34 to 0.50 atmosphere was not significantly lower than that of plants grown at the low tension throughout. Maintaining the higher mean soil moisture tension throughout the 8 weeks past first bloom significantly reduced cotton fruiting but increased the lint production per inch of applied water.