The effects of population density (4, 8 and 16 plants/meter) and the use of chemical growth limitant chlorocholine chloride (CCC) were studied during four years (from 1976/77 to 1979/80), in three localities of São Paulo State, Brazil. The variety was IAC 18 and the inter-row spacing was 1.0 m. The CCC used was 50 g a.i./ha, applied from 60 to 70 days after the emergence of the plants. In the trials where plant height was higher than 140 cm, the yield was lower in the highest population density than in the others, and the growth limitant had positive effect in that treatment, promoting increase in the yield. When plants were shorter than 140 cm, no effects were observed in the yield to growth limitant. The CCC increased earliness of yield, number of bolls located in the plants below 35 cm, weight of 100 seeds, weight of one boll, fiber length, maturity and tenacity. It also decreased number of bolls with abnormal opening and fiber percentage, and had no effect in Micronaire index and uniformity.
cotton; population density; chemical growth limitant; plant height; fiber technological characteristics