Interviews
News Flash
CSD - 'January' a crucial month for cotton
04 Jan '06
3 min read
Cotton seed information provider Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd (CSD) said that January is one of the most critical months in terms of determining final yield and fibre quality of cotton crops, according to the CSD extension and development team.
Border Rivers agronomist, David Kelly, said the cotton plant will shed fruit if the supply of carbohydrates in the plant is not sufficient to meet the demands of fruit at that particular time.
“These carbohydrates are directed preferentially to the development of fruit that are already 'set',” he said.
“A crop's Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF) will always decrease to a point where it 'cuts out' (4 NAWF).
This is when there are not enough resources to both mature the 'set' fruit and continue producing nodes.
“The aim is to extend the period till the crop reaches 4 NAWF for as long as possible.
“Similar to fruit shed, if a crop is limiting of resources due to stress, node development will slow, the NAWF will decrease very rapidly and squares at the top of the plant will be shed.
“If this happens prematurely it will limit boll number (and yield) and reduce the leaf area of the plant which may decrease the ability of the plant to fill bolls.”
He said elongation of fibres in a boll occurs for the first 18-24 days after flowering. Any stress that occurs to the crop during this time will slow fibre elongation, and shorten the final length of the fibres in the affected bolls, noting also that flowers fertilised during a time of crop stress may go on to become light bolls.
Border Rivers agronomist, David Kelly, said the cotton plant will shed fruit if the supply of carbohydrates in the plant is not sufficient to meet the demands of fruit at that particular time.
“These carbohydrates are directed preferentially to the development of fruit that are already 'set',” he said.
“A crop's Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF) will always decrease to a point where it 'cuts out' (4 NAWF).
This is when there are not enough resources to both mature the 'set' fruit and continue producing nodes.
“The aim is to extend the period till the crop reaches 4 NAWF for as long as possible.
“Similar to fruit shed, if a crop is limiting of resources due to stress, node development will slow, the NAWF will decrease very rapidly and squares at the top of the plant will be shed.
“If this happens prematurely it will limit boll number (and yield) and reduce the leaf area of the plant which may decrease the ability of the plant to fill bolls.”
He said elongation of fibres in a boll occurs for the first 18-24 days after flowering. Any stress that occurs to the crop during this time will slow fibre elongation, and shorten the final length of the fibres in the affected bolls, noting also that flowers fertilised during a time of crop stress may go on to become light bolls.
Popular News
Leave your Comments
Editor’s Pick
Esteemed Clients
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
