Twenty-seven upland cotton varieties were grown in a replicated test at the Maricopa Agricultural Center as part of the National Cotton Variety Testing Program. Lint yield, boll size, lint percent, plant population, plant height and fiber property data are presented in this report.

Forty one short staple varieties were grown in a replicated field trial on the Safford Agricultural Center. DP 5690 was the highest yielding variety with a yield of 1302 pounds of lint per acre with DP 90 in second place but with 100 pounds of lint less per acre. Seedcotton yields were essentially identical to 1994.

Two on farm, replicated short staple variety demonstrations were established in 1995. Twelve varieties were evaluated on the Carpenter farm in Solomon and on the Colvin farm in Eden. Several new varieties were planted in both studies, including 2 varieties from Hartz Seed and a new Stoneville entry. Delta Pine 5690 and SureGrow 501 were the highest yielding varieties with yields of 1018 and 1446 pounds of lint per acre at the Solomon and Eden locations, respectively.

Variety trials were grown at two locations and with two different sets of short staple varieties. One trial on the Robbs farm, north of Kansas Settlement, tested eight acalas varieties from New Mexico and California. The other trial on the Curry farm, southwest of Kansas Settlement and north of Sunsites, tested twelve upland varieties as part of the statewide testing program. The latter trial was grown under drip irrigation.

Eight short staple cotton varieties including four New Mexico acalas and four California acalas were tested in the 1995 variety study. The highest yielding variety was 1517-95 with a lint yield of 1030 pounds per acre. The average yield was nearly 100 pounds per acre higher than the previous year. In addition to lint yields; percent lint, plant heights, height to node ratios and plant populations are shown. A lint yield comparison for 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1995 is included in this paper.

Eighteen upland cotton advance strains were grown in a replicated trial at the Maricopa Agricultural Center. Lint yield, boll size, lint percent, plant population, plant height and fiber property are presented in this report.

Upland cotton advanced strains and commercial check comparison varieties were evaluated in replicated field studies in 1996 on Cooperator fields in Queen creek, Buckeye, and Gila Bend, AZ. Eight seed companies submitted advanced strains plus a commercially available check of their choice for each site. The highest lint yields for advanced strains entries by location were: J & S Research JSX 12 (1890 lb./acre), Delta Pine and Land Co. DPX 1075 (1420 lb/acre) and Delta Pine and Land Co. DPX 1075 (2510 lb/acre) at Queen Creek, Buckeye and Gila Bend, Arizona respectively.

Eleven field experiments were conducted in many of the cotton growing areas of Arizona in 1996 for the purpose of evaluating Upland cotton varieties in terms of adaptability and performance. Five commercial cottonseed companies participated in the program. Two varieties were submitted from each company at each location. Experiments were conducted on a commercial level on grower - cooperator fields in most cases. Locations used in the program spanned the range of conditions common to cotton producing areas of the state from about 100 ft. to 4,000 ft. elevation. Results indicated a broad range of adaptability and competitiveness. The 1996 season offered some extremes in terms of weather conditions, with very hot summer temperatures, particularly in July and August. The hot summer weather conditions were primarily difficult in relation to higher humidities (dewpoints) with high night and daytime temperatures. Variety performance under these extremes offers an opportunity for review and compare with regard to adaptability, or what is commonly referred to as "heat tolerance". The 1996 season was very similar in this respect. Each of the participating seed companies offer a compliment of varieties that can serve to match various production strategies commonly employed in the state as well as showing a strong capacity to be regionally adaptive.

Thirty five short staple advanced strains/varieties were grown in a replicated field on the Safford Agricultural Center in 1996. These included entries from Delta Pine, Olvey and Associates, Australia McDaniels, Sure-Grow, Germains, Georga, NAIZSU, and Terra. Delta Pine Experimental 1075 and Olvey and Associates 63 lead the trial with yields over 3.5 bales. Twelve 'varieties' exceeded 3 bales per acre, including 6 varieties from Australia (eg. IF 1003). Much agronomic information is included in the paper as well as HVI values for each variety.

Twenty five upland advanced strains were grown in a replicated trial at the Maricopa Agricultural Center. Lint yield, boll size, plant population, plant height and fiber property are presented in this report.