The effects of plant density on yield and yield components and fiber properties in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under short season production conditions

This study was conducted in 2015 production year in Aydın Province Söke District in order to determine the effect of planting density on yield, yield components and fiber characteristics in cotton grown as secondary product after wheat crops. In the study, Flash cotton variety was used as material. Experiment was conducted in three replications according to randomized blocks design. In the study, eight different planting density was established. In the study, seed cotton yield, number of days to open the first ball, plant height, number of monopodial branches, number of sympodial branches, 1st position ball number, 2nd position ball number, seed cotton weight per ball, a hundred seed weight, lint percentage, liber length, liber fineness, fiber strength and fiber maturity characteristics were examined. In the study, it is detected that planting density had significant impact on seed cotton yield, number of days to open the first ball, number of monopodial branches, number of sympodial branches, number of balls, 1st position ball number and seed cotton weight per ball characteristics, and insignificant impact on other characteristics. In the research, it is detected that when planting density is decreased, seed cotton yield, number of monopodial branches, number of balls and 1st position ball number is increased significantly; number of days to open the first ball and number of sympodial branches is decreased significantly. When evaluated in terms of seed cotton yield, it is concluded that the most suitable distance on row for secondary cotton production should be between 18 and 24 centimeters.