Zonal Application of Plant Growth Regulator in Cotton to Reduce Variability and Increase Yield in a Highly Variable Field

• DOI: 10.56454/miuc6583
• Publication Date: 2023-07-25T16:16:42Z
• Authors: Carlos M.P. Vaz; Julio C. Franchini; Eduardo A. Speranza; Ricardo Y. Inamasu; Lucio A. de C. Jorge; Ladislau M. Rabello; Ivani de O.N. Lopes; Sergio das Chagas; Jefferson L.R. de...; Marcio de Souza; Amandio Pires; James Schepers
• Keywords: Precision Agriculture

Variable-rate application has great potential to reduce variability and increase yield by spatially optimizing agricultural inputs. In cotton, plant growth regulators (PGRs) control excessive provide suitable height for harvest operations. This study evaluates the effect of variable-rate PGR compared constant-rate spatial yield. The approach was carried out in 2020 based on zonal applications defined clustering analysis using soil electrical conductivity, vegetation indexes, maps. Application doses timings were determined integrating measurements whole field 2019 zone 2020. To compare two procedures, cultivar populations kept constant; fertilization accumulated rain similar both seasons. A reduction due observed, with coefficient variation (CV) decreasing from 18% 12% Spatial temporal Normalized Difference Vegetation Index satellite images showed higher CV values (constant-rate) reaching 30% at end season, whereas (variable-rate) constant (approximately 10%). Cotton increased 3.5 4.3 t ha-1 between 2020, which can be partially attributed approach. zones a viable strategy reducing likely increasing highly variable cotton field.