Effect of physical damage to early‐ and late‐maturing cotton cultivars

Determining the effects of timing and intensity of physical damage in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown in the Mid-South could improve management decisions and insurance adjustments after weather- or wildlife-related crop damage has occurred. Research was conducted to quantify the effects of time of damage and intensity of damage on early- and late-maturing cotton varieties in the Mid-South. Cultivar selection affected plant height at first bloom, first bloom + 4 wk, and harvest (p <= .0008), and number of nodes at first bloom + 4 wk and harvest (p <= .0372). The interaction of intensity of damage by time of damage had an effect on plant height and number of nodes at pinhead square, first bloom, first bloom + 4 wk, and at harvest (p <= .0001), where reductions in plant height ranged from 20 to 57% and the number of nodes were reduced by 12-64% as damage increased when compared to the untreated check. Damage intensity by time of damage interaction affected lint turnout, lint yield, micronaire, fiber length, and fiber strength (p <= .0391). Reductions in lint yield (11-70%), lint turnout (2-6%), and micronaire (3-8%) were observed. Increases of 3 and 2% in fiber length and fiber strength, respectively, were also observed at eight node removal at pinhead square. Overall, as the intensity of damage increased, lint yield declined regardless of growth stage, therefore it should be expected to have yield loss where damage has occurred in cotton.