The effect of extended irrigation intervals at different growth stages on fibre characteristics and oil content of cotton in the gezira, Sudan

الملخص EN

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of extended irrigation intervals at different growth stages on the fibre characteristics and oil content of cotton (Gossyipum barbadence L), variety Barakat 90.

A field experiment was carried out in 1998/99 and 1999/2000 growing seasons in the Gezira Research Station, Sudan.

The experiment was done in a complete plots design with four replications.

Treatments were standard irrigation of every two weeks, extended irrigation interval of one month during predetermined stages of cotton growth.

The stages were early and late vegetative growth, early and late flowering, early and late fruiting.

The characteristics of cotton lint studied were 2.5span length, uniformity ratio, micronaire, fineness, maturity, and fibre strengthen in addition to oil content of cotton seed.

Fibre quality characteristics and oil content were not affected by the irrigation treatments.

These were genetically controlled.

The extended irrigation interval of one month did not approach the level of extreme water stress which likely affects these characteristics.

The results also indicated that cotton has a wide adaptation to the different water regimes.