Efecto de la restricción hídrica sobre variables morfofisiológicas y el comportamiento productivo del algodón (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Abstract

Water restrictions at certain stages of cotton growth can cause severe damage to crop development, affecting physiological processes and reducing reproductive structures, with consequent yield losses. The main of this study was to evaluate the effect of water restriction on morphophysiological variables and the productive behavior of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The experiment was carried out, under semi-protected cultivation house conditions, at the Experimental Campus of the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering of the Technical University of Manabí (UTM). Four treatments were established: Emergency (up to 25 days after emergence), Flowering (up to 57 days after emergence), Fruiting (up to 91 days after emergence) and Complete cycle (up to 120 days after emergence). Variables were measured: growth (height, diameter and number of leaves, acorn per plant, length, volume and dry weight of the root, biomass of leaves and stem,) yield (Seed weight ha-1, Fiber weight ha-1) and the physiological state (chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance and water potential). The lowest values were observed in the emergence and flowering stages. When water restriction was imposed in the initial stages of growth, emergence and flowering, the reduction in plant growth, yield and physiological state of cotton was noted, for which significant differences were obtained, being the fruiting treatment and complete cycle with better results. In this study, water restriction mainly affected plant growth and physiology variables. Under conditions similar to those of this study, it is recommended to water the seedlings of the studied species before reaching a water potential of -3 MPa., and take this information into account when developing irrigation schemes for cotton crops.