Effect of water deficit on yield and fiber quality characteristics of different cotton genotypes

This study was conducted in 2018 with 21 cotton genotypes (Astoria, BA-119 (Lider), BA-440, Candia, Carisma, Edessa, Fiona, Flash, Gloria, Lima, Lodos, Lydia, May-344, May-455, May-505, PG-301 (Kaira), PG-6041 (BA 1010), PGS-1510 (Lazer), ST-468, ST-498 and Zena-1018) under full and 50% deficit irrigation conditions. The experiment related to the study was carried out in split plot trial design with three replications. In the experiment, irrigation was arranged to be on the main plots and genotypes on the subplots. As a result of the study, it was determined that water deficit caused statistically significant difference at 1% level in terms of seedcotton yield, fiber yield, spinning consistency index and fiber uniformity. It also caused significant difference in plant height, 100 seed weight, ginning turnout, fiber length, short fiber content, fiber elongation and fiber reflectance at 5% level. On the other hand, it was determined that the genotypes caused significant differences on plant height, 100 seed weight, seedcotton yield, ginning turnout, fiber yield, spinning consistency index, fiber length, fiber strength, fiber fineness, short fiber content, fiber elongation, fiber reflectance and fiber yellowness at the level of 1%. Furthermore, it was determined that deficit irrigation x genotypes interaction caused significant difference at 1% in terms of plant height, 100 seed weight, seedcotton yield, fiber yield and short fiber content, but also it caused significant difference on fiber length at 5%. The highest average seedcotton yield in the study was obtained from Astoria, BA-119, BA-440 and PGS-1510 genotypes. However, BA-119 and PGS-1510 genotypes are noteworthy for their full and deficit irrigation conditions with their highest seedcotton yield. Therefore, these two genotypes can be recommended in addition to full irrigation when deficit irrigation is mandatory.