Twelve varieties were tested including three New Mexico (NM) Acalas and one Acala from ButtonWillow Research in California, six Roundup Ready varieties, five of which also contained the Bt gene, along with a couple of other varieties were planted including FiberMax 989R, the Roundup Ready version of FM 989, which was the highest yielding variety in the trial for two of the past three years. The highest yielding variety in the trial was SureGrow 215BR, the stacked (Bt/Roundup Ready version of SG 125), with a yield near 925 pounds of lint per acre. FM 989R and DP 436BR followed SG 215BR in yield with yields not significantly different from the leader. Yields were slightly lower than seen in the previous year’s study (1). Plant mapping data and fiber quality (HVI) data are also included in this report along with lint value estimates and crop value per acre.

Six New Mexico and California Acala cotton varieties were tested along with three upland varieties with good quality and excellent yield potential in a replicated small plot trial on the Safford Agricultural Center in Graham county at an elevation of 2950 feet. The highest yielding variety in this study was DP 655BR with a yield of 1367 pounds of lint per acre. The next highest variety was Fiber Max 989. This latter variety, while not officially classified as an Acala, produced the longest fiber in the study. Yield and other agronomic data as well as fiber quality data are contained in this paper.

Each year the University of Arizona conducts variety trials across the state to evaluate the performance of upland cotton varieties. These tests provide unbiased data on the performance of varieties when tested side-by-side under typical production practices. In 2001, we planted a total of 12 trials, one in the Yuma region (Yuma county), two in the western region (La Paz and Mohave counties), five in the central region (Maricopa and Pinal counties), one in the southern region (Pima county), and three in the eastern region (Graham, Greenlee, and Cochise counties). We tested seven to twelve commercially available varieties at each test site. The purpose of this report is to present the results of the 2001 tests conducted in the Yuma, western, central, southern, and eastern regions of Arizona.

Upland cotton advanced strains and commercial check comparison varieties were evaluated in replicated field studies at three locations in 2001. The test sites include Yuma, AZ., Maricopa, AZ., and Safford, AZ.. Nine seed companies submitted a maximum of six advanced strains entries per location. Four commercial check varieties were used at Maricopa and Safford-DP5415, NuCOTN33B, SG747, and ST474. Five commercial check varieties were used at Yuma-DP5415, DP33B, SG747, ST474, and DP451BR.

Upland cotton advanced strains, commercial check comparison varieties, and national standard comparison varieties were evaluated in replicated field studies at three locations in 2002. The test sites include Safford, AZ, Maricopa, AZ., and Yuma, AZ. Six seed companies submitted a maximum of five advanced strains entries per location. Three commercial check varieties were used at each site for comparison purposes and included SG747, DP33B, and ST474. Four National Standard varieties were used at the Safford and Maricopa sites for comparison purposes and included Acala 1517-99, Atlas, DP458BR, and ST4892BR.

Each year the University of Arizona conducts variety trials across the state to evaluate the performance of upland cotton varieties. These tests provide unbiased data on the performance of varieties when tested side-by-side under typical production practices. In 2002, we planted a total of 9 trials, two in the Yuma region (Yuma County), four in the central region (Maricopa and Pinal counties), one in the southern region (Pima county), and two in the eastern region (Graham, Greenlee, and Cochise counties). We tested nine to twelve commercially available varieties at each test site. The purpose of this report is to present the results of the 2002 tests conducted in the Yuma, western, central, southern, and eastern regions of Arizona.

A field trial was established during the 2002 growing season as part of the statewide Upland Cotton Variety Testing Program. This trial was located in Thatcher with Dennis Layton Farms as the cooperator. The location was one of eleven around the state. Nine varieties from 5 different participating seed companies were evaluated in this study. Several varieties performed well including Deltapine DP555BR, a new variety from Deltapine, DP655BR, Fiber Max 989BR and 991R. Results indicate that DP655BR, which has traditionally been grown in this valley, continues to be an excellent choice. However, there are several other varieties that have recently come onto the market that provide very strong alternatives for cotton production in the Upper Gila Valley.

Twelve varieties were tested including two New Mexico Acalas, two California Acalas from CPCSD, the new Arizona Cotton Grower’s variety and seven other upland varieties. Among the twelve varieties, eight contained the roundup resistant gene, which is very important for the high elevation trials. Four of these roundup resistant varieties were stacked gene varieties also containing the Bollgard trait. The highest yielding variety in the trial was 1517-99, with a yield approaching 800 pounds of lint per acre. This yield was lower than seen in 2001. In addition to the plant mapping data and HVI data which are provided, estimates of the crop values are also included in this report.

Twelve varieties were tested including two new herbicide resistant entries from California, Riata and Nova, two New Mexico Acalas, seven roundup resistant entries from Delta and Pine Land Co., Stoneville, SureGrow and FiberMax, and the new variety developed for the Arizona Cotton Grower’s Association, AG 3601. The highest yielding variety in the trial was FM 989 with a yield of 1045 pounds of lint per acre. It was also the highest yielding variety at this location last year. The Acala 1517-99 placed second in yield at 1039 pounds of lint per acre. HVI data are also included in this report.

Five New Mexico and three California acala varieties along with twelve upland varieties of interest to the area were tested in a replicated small plot trial on the Safford Agricultural Center in Graham county at an elevation of 2950 feet. The highest yielding variety in this study was DP 655BR with a yield of 1552 pounds of lint per acre. It was followed closely by FM 989BR. These same two varieties were also the highest yielding varieties in this study in 2001 (1). Riata, a roundup resistant cultivar from CPCSD, was the highest yielding acala variety in the study. In addition to the yield and other agronomic data traditionally reported, fiber quality data and estimated values per pound of lint and per acre are contained in this paper.