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Description:
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Cotton produces more fruiting sites than it will ever mature to harvest . Fiber lint yields vary from rain fed conditions of 150kg /ha to irrigated environments producing in excess of 2000kg /ha . The way in which cotton builds its yield has been researched and debated for years . There is a general agreement on the primary yield components but which of these components have the greatest impact is still debatable .
The purpose of this study is to determine which specific variables contribute to cotton's overall lint yield and to determine their relative importance for different cultivars . Recent genetic improvements in cotton have led to a significant increase in the amount of lint produced by the newer cultivars . Six cultivars from Delta and Pine Land Company have been chosen for analysis . These cultivars are separated between the older cultivars and the newer cultivars taking their place in the market .
This study found that there is not just one variable that contributes to cotton's final yield , but rather a combination of any of the variables that leads to an increase in yield . There is not just one set way for a cultivar to develop its yield ; rather , each cultivar develops differently and adapts differently to fluctuations in the environment . Data indicated that the newer cultivars are producing longer fibers with lower micronaire values than their older counterparts . |