Fiber Quality Response of Pima Cotton to Nitrogen and Phosphorus Deficiency

Imposing a moderate level of nutrient deficiency may be an effective management strategy to limit vegetative growth and enhance maturity of Pima cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.). Whether such deficiency affects fiber quality of American Pima cotton, however, is not well known. A field study was conducted in 1991 and 1992 to determine the fiber quality responses of Pima cotton to nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization ranging between deficient and excess. Pima cotton cv. ‘‘S-7’’ was treated with nitrogen rates ranging between 0 and 269 kg ha 1 in a factorial combination with phosphorus rates ranging between 0 and 44 kg ha . Fiber property measurements included fiber length, strength, fineness, elongation, and color properties. Increasing rate of applied nitrogen significantly (P 0.05) increased fiber length, elongation, micronaire, and color characteristics and reduced fiber uniformity ratio in 1991. Increasing *Correspondence: Haile Tewolde, USDA-ARS, 810 Highway 12 East, Mississippi State, MS 39762-5367, USA. E-mail: [email protected]. Current address: Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Route 2, Box 589, Corpus Christi, TX 78406, USA. JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 223–235, 2003 DOI: 10.1081=PLN-120016506 0190-4167 (Print); 1532-4087 (Web) Copyright # 2003 by Marcel Dekker, Inc. www.dekker.com 223 ©2002 Marcel Dekker, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of Marcel Dekker, Inc. MARCEL DEKKER, INC. • 270 MADISON AVENUE • NEW YORK, NY 10016