EFFECT OF PLANT SPACING AND OF APICAL BUD REMOVAL PERIOD ON HERBACEOUS COTTON

A field trial was undertaken under irrigation conditions on a sandysoi l in the county of Boa Venture, PB, Brazil. The objective of this rese arch was to study the influence of plant spacing and date of plant epi cal bud removal of the cotton cultivar (Gossypium hirsutum L. r. latif olium Hutch.) CNPA Precoce 1 on commercial and ginning requirements. A factorial (3 x 5) with a randomized block design was used. Plant arra ngement used was 1.0 m x 0.2 m, 0.5 m x 0.4 m and 1.7 m x 0.3 m x 0.2 m, both having 50,000 plants/ha and period of apical bud removal 20, 4 0, 60 and 80 days after seed emergence. Spinkle irrigation was used in the amount of 560 mm of water. The configuration 0.5 m x 0.4 m and 1. 7 m x 0.3 m x 0.2 In presented yield 19.34 and 24.88 higher, respectiv ely than the arrangement 1.0 m x 0.2 m. Fiber and seed characters were not affected. However, a significant tendency for a reduction in numb er of bells was observed when the epical bud removal was done at perio ds of 40, 60 and 80 days.