Water and Drought
Interaction of Water and Growth Regulators
Water and plant growth regulators like mepiquat chloride can be applied to change cotton growth habits, but both cost money. In addition, water conservation has been a priority in Georgia due to the current drought. Additional water encourages rank growth, while heavy mepiquat chloride application inhibits growth. A combination of controlled irrigation and less mepiquat chloride application can potentially decrease both water and chemical application, save money, and decrease the environmental impact of plant growth regulator sprays. UGA crop and soil scientists instituted a study at the Stripling Irrigation Research Park in Camilla, Georgia, to examine the interaction of irrigation and mepiquat chloride application. Concurrently decreasing irrigation and mepiquat chloride application resulted in similar plant heights at the highest rates of irrigation and mepiquat chloride application. The money saved by the lower rates of irrigation and mepiquat chloride application is currently being analyzed and will be compared to the final yield, quality and value of the crop. (2007)
Sources
| Name | Department | |
| Glen Ritchie | gritchie@uga.edu | Crop and Soil Sciences |
| Steven Brown | smbrown@uga.edu | Crop and Soil Sciences |
| Don Shurley | donshur@uga.edu | Agricultural and Applied Economics |
| Amanda Ziehl | aziehl@uga.edu | Agricultural and Applied Economics |