The Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) was used to schedule irrigation on D + PL 90 cotton on a large scale commercial basis in Waddell, Az. The test consisted of sixteen one acre surface irrigated plots. There were four treatments with four replicates arranged in a randomized complete block design. Highest lint yields were attained when irrigations were scheduled at 0.28 CWSI units.

Irrigation scheduling software has been developed that is menu driven, user friendly and capable of scheduling up to 60 fields. This software is demonstrated scheduling irrigation on both Pima and upland cotton in this paper.

The Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) was used to schedule irrigations on Pima S-6 cotton on a commercial scale in Waddell, Ariz. in 1991. The field study consisted of sixteen, one acre, surface irrigated plots. There were four water treatments with four replicates arranged in a randomized complete block design. There were no significant lint yield differences among water treatments. However, an additional two irrigations totalling an acre foot of water were needed to maintain the treatment thresholds.

The computer program AZSched, with weather data obtained from AzMet, was used to schedule irrigation for a yield trial of Upland Cotton (DPL 90) at the Maricopa Agricultural Center in 1991. Cotton lint yields were compared between plots from four treatments involving the combination of two irrigation efficiencies (70% and 90 %) and two nitrogen fertilizer applications (broadcast and sidedress). The amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied to the broadcast plots was 145# N /A. One hundred thirty pounds NIA was applied to the sidedressed plots. A potassium bromide tracer was applied to select areas in each plot at the time of initial fertilization. Soil samples from each plot were taken to a depth of 10' for analysis of bromide and nitrate to determine the depth of water movement through the soil profile. Irrigation amounts averaged 42.8" for 70% efficiency and 36.7" for 90% efficiency. No significant difference in lint yield was noticed between the two nitrogen fertilizer applications, but significant differences existed between the two irrigation efficiencies.

Leaf water potential (LWP) measurements using a pressure chamber were used to determine optimum timing of the first irrigation following planting on Upland cotton. Previous studies have indicated that leaf water potentials are dependent on the vapor pressure deficit (VPD) of the surrounding air. As a result, the VPD was accounted for in the development of a Leaf Water Potential Index (LWPI). The field study consisted of three irrigation treatments with four replicates arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Targeted treatment thresholds were 0.15 LWPI (wet), 0.30 LWPI (medium), and 0.45 LWPI (dry). Timing of the first irrigation occurred at 36, 53, and 63 days after planting for the wet, medium, and dry treatments respectively. There were no significant lint yield differences between irrigation treatments.

AZSCHED Irrigation scheduling software was used on Pima and upland cotton with irrigations being scheduled at 40, 50 and 60% water depletion. Around 8 inches of rain fell during the growing season so no statistical differences were seen between treatment yields.

Use of the pressure chamber to time the initial post- planting irrigation of short season upland cotton was evaluated in a pilot study at Marana during 1992. Top yields and better overall plant performance were obtained when the initial post - planting irrigation was applied before leaf xylem potential (ψx) dropped significantly below -15 bars. Our findings were similar to those previously observed with Acala cotton in California. The authors believe more work is required before use of the pressure chamber is recommended for irrigation management in Arizona. Specifically, an effective means of separating changes in ψx resulting from day-to-day climate fluctuations from those caused by soil-water depletion must be developed. This study also clearly showed the importance of avoiding early season water stress when growing short season cotton.

Presumably, from a physiological standpoint, early season water stress should be avoided to ensure early fruit initiation, good fruit retention, and optimum yield potential of cotton (Gossypium spp.). This study was conducted to determine the optimum timing of the initial post plant irrigation and the long term effect of postponement on subsequent plant growth patterns, fruit retention, and yield. A short - season Upland variety, (G. hirsutum L.), DPL 20, was planted on 19 April in Marana, AZ, elevation 1970 ft. , on a Pima clay loam (Typic Torrifluvent) soil. Plots (experimental units) consisted of eight 40 in. rows and extended the full length of the irrigation run (600 ft.). Experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications. Initial post - plant irrigations, designated T1 , 72, and T3, were applied when the midday leaf water potential (ψ) of the uppermost, fully- developed leaf reached -15, -19, and -23 bars, respectively. All treatments received the same irrigation regime following the initial post plant irrigation. Basic plant measurements were taken weekly from each experimental unit. These included plant height, number of mainstem nodes, location of first fruiting branch, fruit retention, number of nodes above the uppermost white bloom, bloom count within a 166 ft² area, and percent canopy cover. Soil -water data at seven 25 cm depth increments was collected from a total of 36 access tubes located within the field study, with three tubes per plot. Lint yields (lb. lint /acre) were 1112, 1095, and 977 for T1 , 72, and T3, respectively. Yields were significantly lower when the initial post plant irrigation was applied after ψ, dropped below -19 bars, confirming the results of a previous study conducted in 1992. Throughout the growing season, height - node ratios (HNR) of T1 and 72 plants were at or above the upper threshold established for DPL 20, while T3 HNR remained close to the expected baseline. Fruit retention was low for all three treatments due to season -long insect pressure from lygus bug. The low fruit retention data reflects the effects of high HNR. Future work will include efforts to separate changes in ψ due to day-to-day climatic variations from those caused by soil -water depletion. A second objective will be to incorporate the data obtained from the neutron moisture meter probe into the study results in an effort to better describe the complete soil-plant-atmosphere continuum as affected by the various treatment regimes employed in this study.

The computer program AZSCHED, with weather data obtained from AZMET, was used to schedule irrigations for a yield trial of early season Upland Cotton (DPL 20) at the Maricopa Agricultural Center. Cotton lint yields were compared between plots from five treatments involving five irrigation efficiencies (50 %, 65 %, 75 %, 90% and 110 %). As in previous years, a potassium bromide tracer was applied to select areas in each plot to monitor the movement of water and nitrates down the soil profile. The total amount of fertilizer as nitrogen applied in two split applications and sidedressed was 100 #/a. The total amount of water applied to the plots ranged from 42.7" for 50% to 26.6" for 110% (deficit) irrigation efficiency. The plots were harvested on October 5, 1993. There was a significant difference in lint yield between the irrigation efficiency treatments. The 50% irrigation efficiency treatment produced 1190 # lint /acre while the 110% efficiency produced 883 # lint /acre.

Leaf water potential (LWP) measurements using a pressure chamber were used to determine optimum timing of the first irrigation following planting on Upland cotton in 1992 and 1993. Previous studies have indicated that leaf water potentials are dependent on the vapor pressure deficit (VPD) of the surrounding air. As a result, the VPD was accounted for in the development of a Leaf Water Potential Index (LWPI). The field studies consisted of three irrigation treatments with four replicates arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCB). Targeted treatment thresholds were 0.15 LWPI (wet), 0.30 LWPI (medium), and 0.45 LWPI (dry). Timing of the first irrigation for the 1992 study occurred at 36, 53, and 63 days after planting. Timing of the 1993 first irrigation occurred at 50, 61, and 77 days after planting for the wet, medium, and dry treatments respectively. There were no significant lint yield differences between irrigation treatments in both 1992 and 1993.