Assessing the effects of planting date, seeding rate and fungicide on cotton stand and yield

摘要

Studies were conducted during 1999 and 2000 to assess the effects of seeding rate and fungicides on cotton stand and yield. Cotton was seeded at 1, 3, or 6 seed per foot. Fungicide treatments included black seed (not treated with a fungicide), commercial seed treatment, or commercially treated seed with an in-furrow application of Terraclor Super X EC (2 qt/A). The commercial fungicide seed treatment and the seed treatment plus an in-furrow fungicide spray significantly increased stand over black seed 19 percent and 23 percent, respectively. However, yield was not improved with the addition of the fungicide treatments and the greatest effect on yield stability was achieved by manipulating seeding rate. The seeding rate of 3 seed/ft never producedstands equal or greater than 2 plants/ft, suggesting more work may be required to accurately define the interaction of seeding rate, fungicide treatment, and optimum yield. The consistent results of 6 non-treated seed/ft, implies black seed may be a goodat-plant option.