The Use of Plant Growth Regulators and Other Additives in Cotton Production

The cotton plant is a perennial with an indeterminate growth habit, and reputed to have the most complex growth habit of all major row crops. Furthermore, it is very responsive to management and changes in the environments and responds to any perturbations in its environment with a dynamic growth response that is often unpredictable. Cotton producers and researchers have, therefore, used plant growth regulators (PGRs) and other cultural practices as a means to manage the balance between vegetative and reproductive growth for efficient cotton production. The following provides some information on why we use PGRs, the problem with many of the existing PGRs, and a summary of field and growthroom research on the evaluation PGRs at the University of Arkansas. Starter and foliar fertilizers will not be dealt with here.