the effects of plant population, row and drip lateral densities and the amount of water per application, on soil water distribution and on cotton growth and productivity under these conditions were determined during 3 years of field trials. cotton was grown in loess-brown loam soil in the northern negev of israel. maximal lint production was obtained within a narrow range of irrigation water quantities. quantities below this range reduced production due to water stress, while quantities above this range enhanced vegetative growth and plant height and reduced lint formation. it was concluded that an optimal moisture regime can be obtained more easily by restricting the size of the root zone, but that over-irrigation may easily occur under such conditions. an increase in population over 10 plants/m**2 resulted in enhanced vegetative growth associated with a reduction in lint yield with all irrigation regimes. at the optimal plant population and with maximum quantities of water applied, higher lint production and higher rates of water withdrawal were obtained at a row spacing of 50 cm as compared with 100 cm. when sub-optimal quantities of water were applied lint production was less reduced at row spacing of 100 cm. (edited author abstract) 25 refs