Yield and Height of Cotton as Affected by Weed Density and Nitrogen Level

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL. ‘Stoneville 7A’) grown for 3 yr in competition with various weed densities and nitrogen levels showed annual weeds could reduce cotton heights as much as 75% and cotton yields as much as 88%. Cotton yields were increased by 18 to 30% by adding nitrogen to plots with no weeds. In 1973, cotton supplied with 224 kg/ha of nitrogen could tolerate up to 50% weeds without loss of yield. Weeds left to grow and reseed with no control resulted in increasingly greater competition with each succeeding year.