The profitability of full and "50/92" participation in the 1989 upland cotton program was estimated for representative farms in Maricopa, Pinal, LaPaz and Yuma counties. Special attention was given to the effect on profits of the reduction in permitted acreage, and to farm size and multiple-partner ownership. Full participation was more profitable than "50/92" or nonparticipation given the assumptions used here. The expected profitability of the crops used on 'free acres" in the large farm case -- alfalfa or pima cotton --has a major positive effect on program profitability. The possible use of upland base acres to produce pima cotton or durum wheat, given the current high prices of those crops, is also discussed.

Although seed vigor is ultimately expressed in terms of growth, it is not clear if metabolic processes unlinked to growth can also estimate vigor. The objective of this study was to determine if the relationship between seed vigor and ethanol metabolism differed depending on whether seed growth was presence or absence. For individua1 imbibed cotton seed, ethanol assimilation in air and ethanol biosynthesis in N₂ gas was correlated to seed vigor as measured by cool test performance. Seed growth in N₂ gas was prevented by the addition of polyethylene glycol. Results were inconclusive, because seed performance (radicle growth) during cool testing was not significantly correlated to either ethanol biosynthesis or ethanol assimilation. It was concluded that ethanol metabolism both in the absence and presence of seed growth has limited usefulness as a metabolic marker of cotton seed vigor.

A field study was conducted at the Maricopa Agricultural Center to determine the influence of plant water stress on the effectiveness of defoliants and yield of cotton. Irrigation termination dates of 12 August, 24 August, and 8 September were used to achieve different levels of plant water stress at the time defoliants were applied (22 September). The defoliants tested performed well on cotton, which had termination irrigations in August. Def 6 was not as effective as other defoliants in defoliating plants with an 8 September termination irrigation, unless used in combination with Prep. Cotton with an 8 September termination irrigation produced lint yields 9% higher than cotton with August irrigation termination dates.

Field experiments were carried out at 4 locations in Arizona to evaluate the effects of planting date on the lint yield of several varieties of cotton. One pima and eleven upland varieties were planted on 5 dates at 2 locations and 1 pima and nine upland varieties were planted on 5 dates at a third location. At a fourth location, 1 pima and 3 upland varieties were planted on 4 dates. General trends in lint yields indicate an advantage in yield potential from full- season type varieties, particularly when they are planted early. Full-season varieties, however, diminish rather quickly with regard to yield potential, when planting is delayed in comparison to varieties that are considered mid-or shorter-season varieties.

Irrigation termination trials were continued in 1988 to evaluate a newer, popular upland variety and pima S-6. Irrigation in the first week of September increased the yield of a May planting of DP 77, but not of two trials in 1988 with early April planting dates. A March planting of pima S-6 failed to respond to a 10 September irrigation on Coolidge sandy loam.

The probability of favorable temperatures for some cotton defoliants decreases importantly in the month of October. More effective and earlier defoliation is crucial to advancing the cotton harvest to reduce rainfall damage and diapausing boll weevil numbers. Probabilities indicate more defoliation should be carried out earlier.

In 1984 Maricopa County produced more acres of upland cotton with lower yields than it had in 1987 but also started harvest later. Weather and insects reduced yield and early maturity of the crop; rainfall delayed harvest in the October-November period less than it had in 1987.

Field experiments were conducted in 1988 to begin an assessment of both the agronomic and entomological implications from differences in irrigation termination dates imposed on both upland and pima cotton. Nine study sites were established with non-replicated treatment arrangements. Two replicated experiments were established at Marana, AZ on both upland and pima comparing early and late irrigation terminations. The upland (DPL 20) field was planted 26 April 1988 and irrigation terminations of 18 August (early) and 5 September (late) were imposed. The pima S-6 field was also planted 26 April and irrigation was terminated on 13 August (early) and 1 September (late). Yield measurements showed no significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) between early or late termination with the DPL 20, but quite substantial and significant differences were observed between treatments in the pima experiment.

The effects of oxygen stress and water stress on cotton seed radicle growth was studied. High vigor Deltapine 90 seed were imbibed in individual test tubes at 28°C for 28 hours. Seed were then subjected for 2 hours at 28°C to either 1) oxygen stress imposed by N₂ gas, 2) water stress imposed by polyethylene glycol 6000 (0.8 gm mL water⁻¹), or 3) a combination of both 1) and 2). Following imposition of either oxygen stress or water stress, radicle growth stopped temporarily; growth resumed while either stress was still imposed but at a greatly reduced rate relative to the unstressed control. Cotton radicle growth was prevented however, in the presence of both oxygen and water stress. The prevention of growth was reversible, as growth resumed when both stresses were relieved.

A field study was conducted at the Maricopa Agricultural Center to determine the effect of nitrogen fertility level and growth regulators on earliness, yield of cotton, and effectiveness of defoliants. Nitrogen application rates of 80, 120 and 160 lbs N/A did not influence lint yields or the response of cotton to growth regulators. The growth regulator Piz tended to promote earliness but did not affect final yield. The defoliants tested achieved good leaf drop results independent of the plant nitrogen status. Petiole nitrate-N content at the time of defoliation (4 October) did not correlate well with the response of cotton to defoliation treatments.