Marana Pima Test, 1997

Abstract

Nine pima cotton varieties were grown at Marana Agricultural Center as part of the national cotton variety testing program. Lint yield, boll size, lint percent, and plant population are presented in this report.

Introduction

A pima cotton variety test was conducted as part of the national cotton variety testing program. Varieties from the USDA and private seed companies were included. S-7, the national standard , was the only variety used in this test.

Materials and Methods

This test was located in a level basin field with 600 foot runs and was arranged in a randomized complete block design replicated four times. Plots were four rows wide, 38 feet long with 40 inch spacing. The field was preirrigated on 3 April and seed planted in moist soil on 16 April. Additional irrigations were on 30 May, 20 June, 3 July, 17 July, 31 July, 15 August, 26 August and 10 September. The cotton received 104 lbs/acre of nitrogen during the season. The planting was defoliated on 23 October and 7 November and the center two rows of each plot were machine harvested on 20 November. Heat units (threshold 86/55 degrees F) for the growing season were 4101 and rainfall during the period (16 April to 23 October) was 2.02 inches. Fifty hand picked samples taken out of two reps were used to determine lint percent and boll size.

Results and Discussion

Results of the test are shown in Table 1. Yields ranged from 874 to 1079 lbs lint/acre. Although this test was thinned, final plant populations were high for all entries.