Multi-Location Investigation of Optimum Planting Density and Boll Distribution of High-Yielding Cotton (G. hirsutum L.) in Hubei Province, China

Cotton yield per unit ground area has stagnated for a dozen years in Hubei Province, China, although a series of new high-yielding varieties have been commercialized. A multi-location investigation was carried out in 2008 and 2009 in 13 counties to determine if increased planting population density (PPD) would break the stagnant yield. The results showed that significant differences among the fields existed in theoretical yield, PPD, and bolls per square meter (BPM). The lowest yield of 1 641.1 kg ha-1 was resulted from the lowest PPD of 1.7 plants m-2 and the lowest BPM of 71.8 bolls m-2, while the highest yield of 2 779.7 kg ha-1 was resulted from the highest PPD of 2.5 plants m-2, and the highest BPM of 129.4 bolls m-2. Plant mapping revealed that boll retention rate (BRR) was maintained over 30 or 40% for the first 17-18 fruiting branches (FBs) and decreased dramatically thereafter, rotten boll rate (RBR) decreased, but open boll rate (OBR) rose first and dropped later with rising FB from the bottom to the top. But BRR, RBR, and OBR were all dropped with the fruiting positions (FPs) extending outwards. The optimum range of plant density would be 2-3 plants m-2 and the proper individual plant structure would be 16-19 FBs with 5-7 FPs for cotton production in Hubei Province.