Yield and fiber quality properties of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under water stress and non-stress conditions

The primary objective of this study was to determine the effect of water stress and non-stress conditions on cotton yield and fiber quality properties. A two-year field study was carried out at the Southeastern Anatolia Agricultural Research Institute (SAARI), in 2009 and 2010, with the aim of evaluating 12 cotton genotypes for yield and fiber quality properties under irrigated and water stress conditions. The experiment was laid out as a randomized split block design (RSBD) with four replications. Significant differences were observed among genotypes and water treatments for seed cotton yield, fiber yield, ginning percentage and all fiber quality properties except fiber uniformity. Yield differences among genotypes under water stress and non-stress conditions were higher during the first season. In both years, SER-18 and Stoneville 468 cotton genotypes produced higher yield under water stress conditions, while Stoneville 468 produced higher yield under well-irrigated conditions. The results during the two years indicated that seed cotton yield decreased (48.04%) and fiber yield decreased (49.41%), due to water stress. Ginning percentage and fiber quality properties were also negatively affected by water stress treatment. Fiber length, fiber strength, fiber fineness and fiber elongation were decreased, while fiber uniformity was not affected by water stress treatment.