Field experiments investigating N fertilizer management in irrigated cotton production have been conducted for the past 15 seasons at three Arizona locations on University of Arizona Agricultural Centers (Maricopa, MAC; Marana, MAR; and Safford, SAC). In 2002, residual N studies were conducted at two of these locations (MAC and MAR). The MAC and SAC experiments have been conducted each season since 1989 and the Marana site was initiated in 1994. The original purposes of the experiments were to test nitrogen (N) fertilization strategies and to validate and refine N fertilization recommendations for Upland (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and American Pima (G. barbadense L.) cotton. The experiments have each utilized N management tools such as pre-season soil tests for NO₃⁻-N, in-season plant tissue testing (petioles) for N fertility status, and crop monitoring to ascertain crop fruiting patterns and crop N needs. At each location, treatments varied from a conservative to a more aggressive approach of N management. Results at each location revealed a strong relationship between the crop fruit retention levels and N needs for the crop. This pattern was further reflected in final yield analysis as a response to the N fertilization regimes used. The higher, more aggressive N application regimes did not consistently benefit yields at any location. Generally, the more conservative, feedback approach to N management provided optimum yields at all locations. In 2001, a transition project evaluating the residual N effects associated with each treatment regime was initiated and no fertilizer N was applied. Therefore, all N taken-up by the crop was derived from residual soil N. In 2001, there were no significant differences among the original fertilizer N regimes in terms of residual soil NO₃⁻-N concentrations, crop growth, development, lint yield, or fiber properties. The lint yields were very uniform at each location and averaged 1500, 1100, and 850 lbs. lint/acre for MAC, MAR, and SAC, respectively. In 2002, results were very similar at the MAC and MAR locations. Trends associated with residual fertilizer N effects are not evident at either location just two seasons following N fertilizer applications.

Three foliar fertilizers containing calcium were applied at first bloom to evaluate effects on late planted (June 1) cotton in the Palo Verde Valley. Application of Calcium Metalosate resulted in increased retention percentages when compared with other foliar fertilizers at 21 days post treatment as well as more nodes/plant and calculated fruiting structures/plant. Yields did not reflect these differences however, as highest overall yields were from the untreated check, which yielded about 100 lbs. of lint/acre more than foliar fertilizer treatments. Foliar treatments did result in numerically lower micronaire and longer fibers from first pick cotton. Cotton from the first pick Calcium Metalosate treatment was strongest, but similar to other treatments. Foliar treatments did result in increased cotton value/acre by $65-95/acre, but differences noted were not consistent across field. Increased value noted for fertilizers was associated with areas of field with lowest retention rates in the untreated check at three weeks post application, and further reduction in lint quality value of untreated cotton, due perhaps to crop stresses.

A field experiment was conducted to obtain data from upland cotton grown under low desert conditions to document of the effects of AuxiGro® WP and treatments consisting of AuxiGro® WP plus various foliar fertilizers on cotton yield and quality. Treatments were applied the morning of July 6, 2002, to DPL 655BR cotton that had begun bloom approximately June 28. Yields and quality data were obtained and economics calculated. AuxiGro by itself did not result in a yield increase, but did so in combination with various fertilizers. Highest quality resulted in the 8 oz/acre rate of AuxiGro + Foliar Pride fertilizer, but highest yields were documented from the 4 oz./acre rate of AuxiGro + CalMax. All treatments increased harvested value of cotton/acre when compared with the untreated check, with the treatment consisting of 4 oz./acre rate of AuxiGro + CalMax worth almost $200/acre more than the untreated check.

Conservation or reduced tillage practices in cotton-based crop rotation systems were studied in field experiments initiated at Marana, Coolidge and Goodyear in 2001. Following barley cover and grain crops, soil and water management assessments were made during the 2002 cotton season at the three sites. Cover and grain crop residues and a lack of tillage prior to planting cotton or during the cotton season increased the infiltration of irrigation water into coarsetextured soils, slowed irrigation advance times, and increased the amount of irrigation water used at two of the three sites compared to conventional tillage treatments.

A field study was implemented in 2002 in the Upper Gila River Valley of Safford to investigate the effects of varying phosphorus (P) fertilization rates on yield and quality of Upland cotton. This study is a continuation of work performed in this valley that began in 1998. This study was organized in a randomized complete block design with four treatments including four rates of 10-34-0 fertilizer, 0, 15, 30, and 45 gallons per acre (gpa) replicated 4 times. Lint yield results indicate a positive response to the application of 10-34-0 fertilizer with yield increasing linearly up to 30 gpa. The 45 gpa treatment resulted in a slightly lower yield than the 30 gpa treatment. This was likely due to the high level of nitrogen (N) fertilizer and excessive vegetative growth at the expense of reproductive growth (yield) that occurred in treatment 4.

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Field experiments aimed at investigating N fertilizer management in irrigated cotton production have been conducted for the past 16 seasons at three University of Arizona Agricultural Centers (Maricopa, MAC; Marana, MAR; and Safford, SAC). In 2003, residual N studies were conducted at two of these locations (MAC and MAR). The MAC and SAC experiments have been conducted each season since 1989 and the Marana site was initiated in 1994. Original purposes of the experiments were to test nitrogen (N) fertilization strategies and to validate and refine N fertilization recommendations for Upland (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and American Pima (G. barbadense L.) cotton. Each experiment has utilized N management tools such as pre-season soil tests for NO₃⁻-N, in-season plant tissue testing (petioles) for N fertility status, and crop monitoring to ascertain crop fruiting patterns and crop N needs. At each location, treatments varied from a conservative to a more aggressive approach of N management. Results at each location revealed a strong relationship between fruit retention levels and N needs of the crop. This pattern was further reflected in the final yield analysis as a response to the N fertilization regimes used. The higher, more aggressive N application regimes did not consistently benefit yields at any location. Generally, the more conservative, feedback approach to N management provided optimum yields at all locations. In 2001, a transition project evaluating residual N effects associated with each treatment regime was initiated with no N fertilizer applied. Therefore, all N taken-up by the crop was derived from residual soil N. In 2001, 2002, and even 2003 there were no significant differences among the original fertilizer N regimes in terms of residual soil NO₃⁻-N concentrations, crop growth, development, lint yield, or fiber properties. Lint yields were very uniform at each location in 1991 and averaged 1500, 1100, and 850 lbs. lint/acre for MAC, MAR, and SAC, respectively. In 2002, results were very similar and yields averaged 1473 and 1060 lbs. lint/acre for MAC and MAR locations respectively. The results for 2003 were similar to the results of the prior two years with yields at 1322 and 1237 lbs. lint/acre for MAC and MAR, respectively. Trends associated with residual fertilizer N effects are not evident at either location following three consecutive seasons of N fertilizer treatments.

This project is a continuation of an ongoing phosphorus (P) fertility evaluation that began in 1998, at Safford, AZ on a grower cooperator field. The field study conducted during the 2003 season consisted of five treatments of varying rates of P fertilizers from 0 through 165 lbs. of P₂O₅ per acre. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Plot sizes were 12, 36 in. rows wide and extended the full length of the irrigation run of 1250 feet. Three of the five treatments (treatments 3, 4, and 5) consisted of varying rates of P fertilizer applied as a liquid blend (11-30-0-5S) proprietary to United Agri Products (UAP) injected in the soil at approximately the 4 leaf stage prior to the first post plant irrigation. An additional treatment (treatment 2) of calcium thiosulfate (CATS) proprietary to Tessenderlo-Kerley was also applied. In an effort to ensure uniform application of fertilizer nitrogen (N) across all treatments, a solution of urea-ammonium-nitrate (UAN) was applied to bring uniform the level of all treatments with respect to N fertilizer. Lint yield results indicate a strong positive response to applied P, consistent with the previous fours years of P fertility work done in this area. The highest applied P treatments resulted in the highest lint yields with an increase of approximately 155 lbs. lint/acre above the control, an increase of about 12%. Fiber quality data did not indicate any significant differences among treatments for any of the fiber quality parameters measured. Compiling all yield data from the prior six years and plotting percent relative yield as a function of applied P fertilizer demonstrates a positive response to P fertilization. These results indicate the need for local growers to consider P fertilization as an important component of their fertility program. This is particularly true for cotton fields that have had very little or no rotation with small grain crops that are commonly fertilized with a P based fertilizer such as 16- 20-0.

A project was initiated in the 2004 cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) growing season in an effort to accomplish two major objectives. The first was to continue with phosphorus (P) fertilization evaluations that have taken place in the Upper Gila River Valley for the past four seasons by continuing to document the effects of P fertilization on crop yield and fiber quality. The second objective was to investigate the feasibility of utilizing a Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology for making variable rate (VR) applications of P fertilizers based upon yield data from the previous cropping season. Yield maps from a cotton picker mounted yield monitoring system were collected from the 2003 growing season and used to develop prescription applications of P fertilizers in the 2004 season. The project was established with four treatments including a control (Treatment 1 - 0 P fertilizer applied); a VR application treatment (Treatment 2 - received 52 lbs P/acre on average); a high Uniform Rate (UR) application (Treatment 3 - 75 lbs P/acre); and a low UR application (Treatment 4 - 45 lbs P/acre). These treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The size of each experimental unit was 0.7 acres. Lint yield results indicated a positive response to applied P fertilizers with treatments 2, 3, and 4 producing significantly higher yields than the control. Lint yield was not significantly affected by fertilizer application technique. Yield differences among the treatments receiving P fertilizer were minimal, particularly among treatments 2 and 3. However, it is important to note that the amount of P fertilizer used in treatment 2 was reduced by 27% with the use of the VR application technique. This produces an approximate $7/acre savings to the grower. This project will be continued in the 2005 growing season and will be expanded to investigate VR application technology in nitrogen (N) fertilization also.

Field experiments aimed at investigating N fertilizer management in irrigated cotton production have been conducted for the past 16 seasons at three Arizona locations on University of Arizona Agricultural Centers (Maricopa, MAC; Marana, MAR; and Safford, SAC). In 2004, residual N studies were conducted at two of these locations (MAC and MAR). The MAC and SAC experiments have been conducted each season since 1989 and the Marana site was initiated in 1994. The original purposes of the experiments were to test nitrogen (N) fertilization strategies and to validate and refine N fertilization recommendations for Upland (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and American Pima (G. barbadense L.) cotton. The experiments have each utilized N management tools such as pre-season soil tests for NO₃⁻-N, in-season plant tissue testing (petioles) for N fertility status, and crop monitoring to ascertain crop fruiting patterns and crop N needs. At each location, treatments varied from a conservative to a more aggressive approach of N management. Results at each location reveal a strong relationship between the crop fruit retention levels and N needs for the crop. This pattern was further reflected in final yield analysis as a response to the N fertilization regimes used. The higher, more aggressive N application regimes did not consistently increase yields at any location. Generally, the more conservative, feedback approach to N management provided optimum yields at all locations. In 2001, a transition project evaluating the residual N effects associated with each treatment regime was initiated and no fertilizer N was applied. Therefore, all N taken-up by the crop was derived from residual soil N. In 2001, 2002, 2003 and even 2004 there were no significant differences among the original fertilizer N regimes in terms of residual soil NO₃⁻-N concentrations, crop growth, development, lint yield, or fiber properties. The lint yields were very uniform at each location in 1991 and averaged 1500, 1100, and 850 lbs. lint/acre for MAC, MAR, and SAC, respectively. In 2002, results were very similar and yields averaged at 1473 and 1060 lbs. lint/acre for MAC and MAR locations respectively. The 2003 results were not different from the prior two years of results and yields averaged at 1322 and 1237 lbs. lint/acre for MAC and MAR respectively. In 2004, yields averaged 828 and 1075 lbs. lint/acre. Trends associated with residual fertilizer N effects are not evident at either location four seasons following N fertilizer applications.