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Abstract
This thesis addresses the effects of cultivar, irrigation, and plant growth management strategy on cotton growth, maturity, yield, and fiber quality. In both experimental years, there was an interaction between irrigation and mepiquat chloride (MC) management for plant height. In 2020, MC treatments hastened physiological maturity in irrigated plots, but had no effect in dryland plots. In 2020 yield responded positively to irrigation, and in 2021 yield responded negatively to irrigation. There was no effect of MC treatment or interaction between MC and any other effect for lint yield. Fiber length was reduced, whereas strength and micronaire were increased by drought stress in 2020. Increased fiber length, strength, uniformity, and micronaire were observed by MC application in both years. We conclude that aggressive MC management reduces growth, promotes earlier maturity under well-watered conditions, but does not necessarily interact with irrigation management to affect lint yield.