Irrigation management impacts on cotton reproductive development and boll distribution

Abstract Cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) reproductive development is affected by irrigation management and reduced soil moisture, leading to yield impacts. This study was conducted determine how timing moisture affects the distribution of cotton structures throughout canopy. Reduced achieved through varied amounts based on recommendations from an agroecosystem model. Plants each treatment were destructively sampled bi‐weekly squares, green bolls, abscissions counted mainstem fruiting branches. Plant height, leaf area, dry weights flowers, bolls measured. first square peak bloom number in lower middle quarter nodes, where most are located. Reproductive growth sensitive treatments rates squaring bloom, whereas period 90% open boll unaffected rates.