The growth and development of cotton IAC 23 under ultra-narrow, narrow and conventional rows and different numbers of plants for linear meter have been evaluated. The experiment was lead in the experimental area of the University of São Paulo/ESALQ, Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brasil, in 2001/2002. The experimental design was a randomized complete block, in factorial scheme, with 4 replications, being three rows (0.38; 0.76 and 0.95 m) and four densities of plants for linear meter (5, 8, 11 and 14). They were analyzed: leaf area index (LAI) and plant shoot dry mass in all phenological phases (emergence of first flower buds, opening of first flower; physiological maturation; first open boll; complete maturation); average plant height, insertion of the first fruit branch, stem diameter, number of vegetative and fruit branches and number of internodes, were estimated by harvest occasion. Under the studied conditions, the cultivar completed its cycle in 161 days. Interaction between rows and densities of plants occurred to average plant height; number of fruit branches and internodes. Different configurations of rows modified the growth and the development of the cotton plants.
cotton; row; density; leaf area index; dry mass; height of plants; insertion of the first fruit branch; stem diameter
