Upland cotton advanced strains and commercial check varieties were evaluated in replicated field studies at three locations in 2004. The test sites include the AZ locations of Safford, Maricopa, and Yuma. Eight seed companies submitted a maximum of ten advanced strain entries per location. Three commercial check varieties were used at all three sites, and included ST5599BR, DP449BR, and DP448B. Data collected included final plant heights, yield, and fiber quality. The research is conducted in order to develop public unbiased performance data of genetic materials that have moved to the advanced stages of testing and are being considered for commercial release. The data have historically been used to add to seed company databases and assist with commercial release decisions.

A set of experiments were conducted in two Arizona locations to evaluate preliminary and advanced strains from the Arizona Cotton Growers Association breeding program. These trials were conducted in Yuma, AZ (130 ft. above MSL) and Maricopa, AZ (1170 ft. above MSL). Strains were planted into four row plots extending 38 feet in a randomized complete block design with a minimum of three replications. Each location had three commercial cotton varieties included as control treatments for comparison. Data collected on these trials included a series of plant measurements at three growth stages over the course of the season, plus yield and fiber quality data. All data were subjected to statistical analysis to test for differences among strains for yield and fiber quality. The trial conducted at Yuma performed extremely well with yields ranging from 1300 to over 2100 lbs. lint/acre. The Maricopa test site experienced some adverse weather (high levels of heat stress) and insect related conditions that led to overall decreased yields. Ranges in yield were from approximately 800 to just over 1400 lbs. lint/acre. Significant differences among lint yield and fiber properties were experienced at each location. Plant measurement results also demonstrated interesting trends among strains and locations.

Three separate Upland cotton variety evaluations were conducted in southeastern Arizona during the 2005 cotton growing season. Two locations were in Graham County, Thatcher and Ashurst, while the third location was in Cochise County in the community of Kansas Settlement. Eleven varieties were selected for both the Thatcher and Kansas Settlement locations while seven were planted at the Ashurst location. Varieties ranged in maturity from early to full at each of the three locations. All plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. All three locations were planted on grower-cooperator fields and were managed in accordance to the individual grower styles. Plant measurements were collected over the course of the season at both the Thatcher and Ashurst locations. Lint yield was determined by harvesting the entire plot at each location and weighing the resultant seedcotton. Sub-samples were also collected at the time of harvest for percent lint estimates and fiber quality analysis. Lint yield levels at both the Ashurst and Thatcher locations were high. Due to poor initial germination, the Kansas Settlement location had to be replanted and was later maturing. Thus, lint yield was down some from the normal average in that area. At the Thatcher location lint yield ranged from 1200 to just over 1600 lbs. lint/acre with ST5242BR producing the highest lint yield and the highest crop value. In Ashurst the yields ranged from 950 to nearly 1350 lbs. lint/acre with Fiber Max FM960RR producing the highest lint yield. However, due to some fiber quality discounts it did not produce the highest crop value. Fiber Max FM989RR had excellent fiber quality and produced the highest crop value even though it produced a slightly lower yield. In Kansas Settlement lint yields ranged from 460 to approximately 850 lbs. lint/acre with the highest lint yield and total crop value being produced by Deltapine DP444BR. This is consistent with the earlier nature of this variety.

A single field trial was conducted in 2005 at the University of Arizona Safford Agricultural Center as part of the regional Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton variety testing program. This trial was conducted to evaluate nine different ELS varieties under growing conditions of the Upper Gila River Valley. These nine varieties were planted in a randomized complete block design with four replications on 26 April 2005. All plots were managed in an optimum fashion with respect to general agronomic practices. Plot size was four rows 36” wide and 40’ in length. Lint yield was determined on 10 November by harvesting the center two rows of each plot and weighing the resultant seed cotton. Sub-samples were collected for percent lint determination and fiber quality analysis at the time of harvest. Lint yield averaged 1375 lbs/acre with a range of just over 1150 to nearly 1570 lbs lint/acre. Several experimental CPCSD varieties performed extremely well with E503 and E105 placing in the top three. The standard DP340 also placed in the top three. By comparison to the Pima S-7 variety significant advances in terms of yield are being made with the newer varieties being developed. Significant advances in fiber quality were also observed. Phytogen PHY800 performed very well with respect to fiber quality properties, particularly in comparison to the Pima S-7 standard of exceptional quality.

A series of experiments were conducted across two locations in Arizona to evaluate 32 advanced and preliminary strains from the Arizona Cotton Growers Breeding Program. These trials were conducted in Yuma, AZ (130 ft. above MSL) and Maricopa, AZ (1170 ft. above MSL). Strains were planted in four row plots extending 38 feet in a randomized complete block design with a minimum of four replications. Each location had three commercial cotton varieties included as control treatments for comparison. Data collected on these trials included a series of plant measurements at three growth stages over the course of the season and yield and fiber quality data. All data were subjected to statistical analysis to test for differences among strains for yield and fiber quality. Both locations produced high yields despite high levels of heat stress in the lower deserts. Statistically significant differences were observed in yield and all fiber quality parameters at each location. Yield was down in Yuma as compared to previous years ranging from 1100 to 1800 lbs lint/acre. Yield at Maricopa was up significantly from last year with yields ranging from 1400 to 2100 lbs lint/acre. Significant increases in staple length was observed with several ACGA lines over control varieties at both locations with one line in particular producing a staple length of nearly 40 (ACGA 107). Several ACGA lines possess excellent fiber quality and performed well in terms of yield at both locations.

The upland cotton variety trial has been conducted in Arizona every year for the past 6 years to evaluate several varieties of upland cotton. Varieties planted at each location are planted side-by-side to evaluate performance and yield under the same growing conditions. Eleven locations were planted in Arizona in 2005. These locations include two locations in the Yuma Region (Yuma County), two locations in the Western Region (La Paz and Mohave Counties), four locations in the Central Region (Maricopa and Pinal Counties), one location in the Southern Region (Pima County), and two locations in the Eastern Region (Graham and Cochise Counties). Each site had between seven and eleven varieties evaluated for yield and quality of lint.

Two separate Upland cotton variety evaluations were conducted in southeastern Arizona during the 2006 cotton growing season. One location was in Graham County (Thatcher), while the second location was in Cochise County (Kansas Settlement). Sixteen varieties were planted at the Thatcher and ten varieties were selected and planted at the Kansas Settlement location. Varieties ranged in maturity from early to full at each of the locations. All plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Both locations were planted on grower-cooperator fields and were managed in accordance to the individual grower styles. Plant measurements were collected over the course of the season at only the Thatcher location. Lint yield was determined by harvesting the entire plot at each location and weighing the resultant seedcotton. Sub-samples were collected also at the time of harvest for percent lint estimates and fiber quality analysis. Crop value was calculated multiplying the lint yield by a lint price determined by a base value of $0.52/lb plus any discounts or premiums based upon fiber quality. Lint yield levels at both locations were high ranging from 1200 to just over 1900 lbs. lint/acre with a new Acala variety from Phytogen (PHY745WRF) producing the highest yield and also the highest crop value at the Thatcher location. In Kansas Settlement lint yields ranged from 1000 to over 1500 lbs. lint/acre with the highest lint yield and total crop value being produced again by the new Acala variety from Phytogen (PHY745WRF).

A series of experiments were conducted across three locations in Arizona to evaluate over 50 commercial cotton strains. These trials were conducted in Yuma, AZ (130 ft. above MSL); Maricopa, AZ (1170 ft. above MSL); and Safford, AZ (2900 ft. above MSL). Strains were planted in four row plots extending 38 feet in a randomized complete block design with a minimum of three replications. Each location had three commercial cotton varieties included as control treatments for comparison. Data collected on these trials included a series of plant measurements at three growth stages over the course of the season, plus yield and fiber quality data. All data was subjected to statistical analysis to test for differences among strains for yield and fiber quality. Trials conducted at both Yuma and Safford performed extremely well with yields ranging from 1200 to over 2400 lbs. lint/acre. The Maricopa test site experienced some adverse weather (high levels of heat stress) and insect related conditions that led to overall decreased yields. Ranges in yield were from approximately 400 to just over 1600 lbs. lint/acre. Significant differences among lint yield and fiber properties were experienced at every location. Plant measurement results also demonstrated interesting trends among strains and locations.

A series of experiments were conducted across three locations in Arizona to evaluate over 40 commercial cotton strains during the 2006 cotton growing season. These trials were conducted in Yuma, AZ (130 ft. above MSL); Maricopa, AZ (1170 ft. above MSL); and Safford, AZ (2900 ft. above MSL). Strains were planted in four row plots extending 38 feet in a randomized complete block design with a minimum of four replications. Each location had three commercial cotton varieties included as control treatments for comparison. Data collected on these trials included a series of plant measurements at three growth stages over the course of the season, yield and fiber quality data. All data were subjected to statistical analysis to test for differences among strains for yield and fiber quality. All three locations produced high yields despite high levels of heat stress in the lower deserts. Statistically significant differences were observed in yield and all fiber quality parameters at each location. Several lines performed considerably better than the commercial control varieties in terms of both yield and fiber quality indicating that continued progress is being made in developing new varieties that perform well in the varied cotton producing regions of Arizona.

This item was digitized as part of the Million Books Project led by Carnegie Mellon University and supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Cornell University coordinated the participation of land-grant and agricultural libraries in providing historical agricultural information for the digitization project; the University of Arizona Libraries, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Office of Arid Lands Studies collaborated in the selection and provision of material for the digitization project.