Tall morningglory [Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth.], pitted morningglory (I. lacunosa L.), ivyleaf morningglory [I. hederacea (L.) Jacq.] and entireleaf morningglory (I. hederacea var. integruiscula Gray) were compared for their competitive ability with cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) at weed densities of 4, 8, 16 and 32 weeds/15 m of row. Tall morningglory was the most competitive with yield reductions of as much as 88% at 32 weeds/15 m. The higher populations of tall morningglory also significantly reduced cotton populations, mechanical harvesting efficiency and lint percentage below that in the controls. Pitted morningglory densities twice that of tall morningglory were required to produce cotton responses similar to those induced by tall morningglory. Ivyleaf morningglory and entireleaf morningglory were almost identical in their competitive potentials and were less competitive than the other species evaluated. Their competitive ability was greatly reduced by disease. Competition from morningglories did not consistently affect cotton fiber micronaire, fiber length or strength.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. ‘Stoneville 213’) was grown with densities of sicklepod (Cassia obtusifolia L.) or redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) ranging from 0 to 32 weeds/15 m of row. Regression of seed cotton yields on weed density revealed a linear decrease in yield with increasing weed densities. In the 3 yr these studies were conducted, losses in hand harvested yields of seed cotton ranged from 34 to 43 kg/ha for each sickledpod plant/15 m of row and 21 to 38 kg/ha for each redroot pigweed plant per 15 m of row. Under comparable weed densities, yields of seed cotton differed only slightly when hand harvested or mechanically harvested. Mechanical harvesting efficiencies of cotton were reduced only at higher densities of weeds. The percentage of trash in cotton generally increased with increasing density of weeds. Neither sicklepod nor redroot pigweed affected cotton grade or micronaire.