The Impact of Environmental Variability on Cotton Fiber Quality: A Comparative Analysis of Primary Cotton-Producing Regions in Türkiye

The quality of cotton fiber plays a pivotal role for both producers and processors, influencing the market value and end-product quality. Certain cotton fiber properties, such as length, strength, micronaire, and uniformity index, are crucial determinants of cotton quality. Despite its prominence as a cotton-producing region, the Aegean region in Türkiye lacks comprehensive studies examining the quality of its cotton fiber across different subregions and seasonal variations. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the variations in cotton fiber quality across different years and subregions within the Aegean. This study involved the evaluation of a total of 368,686 individual fiber quality analyses conducted over seven years across three subregions within the Aegean in Türkiye. The fiber samples collected from Bergama, Söke, and Menemen underwent high-volume instrument (HVI) analysis to evaluate the variations in cotton fiber quality across years and subregions, considering the phenological stages of cotton and climate conditions. The findings highlighted significant variations in the fiber quality traits among subregions, with environmental factors such as temperature and humidity playing crucial roles. Higher average daily temperatures during the flowering stage to boll formation contributed to higher strength values, while limitations on fiber length were observed due to prevalent high temperatures. Additionally, variations in micronaire values were linked to temperature and humidity conditions during boll development stages. This study underscores the importance of comprehensively considering climatic factors to understand their impacts on cotton fiber quality and suggests further research into the cotton plant’s phenology and specific climate conditions for a more thorough understanding of environmental effects on fiber quality.