Kısıntılı Su Uygulamalarının Pamuğun (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Verim Bileşenleri ve Lif Kalite Özellikleri Üzerine Etkisi

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different irrigation levels on yield and fiber quality characteristics of cotton varieties. The research was conducted at Cukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture, Field Crops Research and Experiment Station located in Sarıcam district of Adana during the 2021 growing season. The experiment included three different water stress levels (I25, I50, and I100) determined based on measurements of yield components. Four cultivars (Fiona, May 344, May 455, and May 505) widely grown in the region were used in the study. The results showed that plant height, number of fruit branches and bolls, 100 seed weight, ginning yield, cotton mass yield, fiber length, and fiber strength were significantly reduced with increasing water stress in irrigation water. May 455 variety showed more suitable fiber fineness in I25 irrigation treatment. The May455 variety can be recommended as a promising alternative for the coarse fiber problem, which is one of the biggest challenges in the textile industry. Finally, in the semi-arid climate zone of the Çukurova region, full irrigation practices remain advantageous for cotton production when water resources are abundant. However, this study shows that a 50% reduction in water can still provide acceptable fiber quality parameters for the textile industry. Therefore, in water scarcity scenarios, a 50% curtailment irrigation practice (I50) is recommended for cotton cultivation in the region.