Acala/Upland Cotton Variety Trial,
Safford Agricultural Center, 2003
L.J. Clark, K.F. Ellsworth and E.R. Norton
Abstract
Eight Acala varieties from New Mexico(4), California(3) and Arizona(1) along
with thirteen 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 555BR
with a yield of 2203 pounds of lint per acre, but FM991BR produced the highest
gross revenue per acre at $1527 per acre. Sierra, a new Acala variety from
California, was the highest yielding Acala with a lint yield of 1872 pounds per
acre and a gross revenue of $1324 per acre. The average lint yield was 500
pounds per acre higher that the 2002 season indicating that 2003 was an above
average cotton growing year and that the heat units per day in the week following
planting were above the threshold. In addition to the yield , several other
agronomic variables were measured. These included plant height, total nodes, and
boll weights. From plant height and total nodes the height to node ratios were
calculated. Differences were seen between these variables by variety but the most
notable point was that the plants were robust in their growth habit and fruiting
forms were heavier than the previous year. HVI fiber quality data were reported
and estimated values (in cents per pound of lint) were calculated. The HVI data
showed an average fiber length of 1.13 inches, with only one variety producing a less
than 1.10, and seven varieties having fiber of 1.15 inches or longer. A New Mexico
experimental variety had the longest fiber at 1.18 inches. The average fiber strength
was 32.1 grams per tex and the same NM experimental produced the strongest
fiber. In general, all of the varieties included in this study had very good fiber.
Introduction
Southeastern Arizona has a history of growing high quality Upland/Acala cotton. Over the years, only the higher
elevation growers were able to economically grow the New Mexico Acalas as lower quality varieties produced
higher yields and greater incomes for the areas lower than 3500 feet. Our quest continues to find high quality
cotton varieties that will yield competitively, with the commonly grown varieties.
Materials and Methods
This trial was designed as a replicated small plot trial with four replications. The plots were planted with a conetype planter which distributes a given weight of seed uniformly over the length of the plot. This year the seeds were
planted dry and watered up. The following crop history provides the information on how the crop was managed:
Arizona Cotton Report (P-138) May 2004
115
Crop History:
Previous crop: Small grains
Soil type: Pima clay loam variant
Planting date: 25 April 2003
Rate: 25 pound per acre
Herbicide: 1.5 pt/ac Triap pre-plant, 4 pts/ac Caparol at lay-by
Fertilizer: side dressing of 100 lbs/ac of urea on 5/29 and 7/19
Insecticide: 4 applications of insecticide (2 OP, 2 pyrethroids) to control stinkbugs, pink bollworm and whitefly
Pix/Prep: None
Defoliation: 8 oz/ac Ginstar - 10/16/03, 1 pt/ac Starfire - 10/23/03
Irrigation: Furrow, planted to moisture +10 irrigations (ca. 41.3 inches + 0.8 inches of rain) [last irr. 9/24/03]
Harvest dates: 1st pick: 26 November
2nd pick: not taken
Heat units (86/55EF) from planting to first frost (4 Nov): 3855
The plots were picked using a modified 2-row cotton picker. The production from each plot was caught in a sack
and weighed on an electronic platform scale to determine seed cotton yields. Ten boll samples were collected prior
to harvest to determine boll weights. These samples were then ginned to determine percent lint turnout.
Results and Discussion
Weather conditions were better than average and even better than the previous year. In 2002 heat units averaged
11.4 in the week following planting and averaged 18.6 over the entire growing season. 2003 topped those values by
averaging 12.2 HU per day for the week following planting and 19.2 over the growing season. Figure 1 shows the
heat units compared to the average. From this figure one can see that the most outstanding departures from the
norm were from mid-May to mid-June and again from mid-September to mid-October. As with 2002 (reference 1),
the season was dry from lack of rainfall and was an ideal situation for plant and fiber development.
Table 1 contains yield data, crop values per acre, percent lint turnout and plant populations. Yields were excellent
but varied greatly from 1297 to 2203 pounds of lint per acre with an average of 1840 pounds per acre. The top two
varieties were DP 555BR and FM991BR replacing DP 655BR and FM989 that had been the leaders the past two
seasons. The latter two varieties yielded >250 pounds of lint more than in 2002, but DP555BR exceeded it’s
previous year’s yield by more than 850 pounds! This raises the question of consistency of yield. It should also be
noted that FR991BR produced the greatest value per acre because of the premium for it’s fiber. Also worthy of note
are DP 5690R (an old timer with a good track record), DP 451BR and Sierra (a roundup ready, high quality Acala
variety from CPCSD). The percent lint turnout values were obtained by ginning the boll samples picked by hand
from each plot and ginned in a 10-saw table gin. Percent lint varied from 38.5% to 42.7%, with the new FM989BR
producing the highest lint turnout value. Plant populations did not vary significantly, but the small seeded variety,
DP 555BR, known to struggle at emergence time, had the lowest plant population.
Table 2 contains additional agronomical variables both measured and calculated. There were significant differences
in values for these variables by variety, most of which will be left to the scrutiny of the reader. But, suffice it to say
the values indicate the plants were robust in their growth habit and the fruiting forms were heavier than last year.
HVI values of the lint are included in Table 3. All of the varieties in this test were ginned on a saw gin and sent to
the classing office as upland varieties. Neither pre- nor post-ginning cleaners were used and the grades tend to be
lower than would be seen with a better quality gin. Micronaire values in this study were higher than normal, with
all but one having values 5.0 or greater. The lengths varied less than in previous years with the shortest fiber
measuring 1.08 inches and the longest 1.18 inches. The latter fiber from a New Mexico experimental variety.
Length, strength and uniformity as a whole were very good, but the better quality Acalas did not show as good
quality as the previous year. These values along with trash, Rd and +b color values will be left with the reader to
follow his/her interests.
Arizona Cotton Report (P-138) May 2004
116
References
1. Clark, L.J., E.W. Carpenter and E.R. Norton. 2003. Acala/Upland Cotton Variety Trial, Safford Agricultural
Center, 2002. Cotton, A College of Agriculture and Life Science Report, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
Series P-134, pp.138-143.
Table 1. Yield and other agronomic variables for Acala/Upland variety study, Safford Agricultural Center,
2003.
Revenue2
($/acre)
% Lint
Turnout
Plants per Acre
2203 a1
$1,477
41.9 ab
37661 a
FM991BR
2173 a
$1,527
41.4 ab
49686 a
DP 5690R
1979 ab
$1,366
41.8 ab
38796 a
DP 451BR
1966 ab
$1,374
41.4 ab
43333 a
SIERRA
1872 a-c
$1,324
40.6 ab
44014 a
FR 991R
1857 a-c
$1,282
40.2 ab
46056 a
DP 449BR
1833 a-c
$1,286
41.3 ab
54223 a
DP 655
1820 a-d
$1,246
40.8 ab
46283 a
FM 989BR
1792 a-d
$1,217
42.7 a
46056 a
NM 99813
1770 a-d
$1,242
40.5 ab
43787 a
1517-99
1765 a-d
$1,218
41.5 ab
38115 a
NOVA
1701 b-e
$1,140
40.8 ab
46963 a
ST 5599BR
1637 b-e
$1,149
41.7 ab
38115 a
1517-95
1604 b-e
$1,127
41.4 ab
43106 a
PM 1199R
1575 b-e
$1,098
40.1 ab
55131 a
NM 990815
1563 b-e
$1,110
39.8 ab
49005 a
BR 9605
1531 b-e
$1,027
40.2 ab
48551 a
ST5303R
1528 b-e
$1,060
38.5 b
47190 a
RIATA
1482 c-e
$1,040
39.1 ab
52181 a
AG 3601
1367 de
$933
41.5 ab
52408 a
SALCOT SACALA
1297 e
$1,297
39.9 ab
41291 a
Average
1839.8
$1,216
40.8
45774.7
LSD(05)
406.1
--
3.2
17274
CV(%)
15.6
--
5.5
26.7
Variety
Lint Yield
(lb/ac)
DP 555
1. Values, within a column, followed by the same letter are not significantly different at the 95% level of confidence using Duncan’s multiple range
test.
2. Gross revenues in dollars per acre using the lint values per pound found in Table 3.
Arizona Cotton Report (P-138) May 2004
117
Table 2. Plant mapping data for Acala/Upland variety study, Safford Agricultural Center, 2003.
Variety
Plant Height
(inches)
Total Nodes
HNR
Boll Weight
DP 555
35.1 ab1
18.8 ab
1.87 ab
5.42 a-c
FM991BR
41.9 a
19.5 ab
2.15 a
5.25 a-c
DP 5690R
38.0 ab
20.5 ab
1.86 ab
4.95 a-c
DP 451BR
35.3 ab
20.0 ab
1.48 b
5.15 a-c
SIERRA
40.6 a
21.6 a
1.90 ab
5.63 ab
FR 991R
41.6 a
20.3 ab
2.06 a
5.37 a-c
DP 449BR
38.4 ab
19.8 ab
1.94 ab
5.17 a-c
DP 655
35.6 ab
17.8 b
2.00 ab
5.68 a
FM 989BR
39.1 ab
19.9 ab
1.98 ab
4.85 bc
NM 99813
38.8 ab
20.5 ab
1.90 ab
4.98 a-c
1517-99
39.3 ab
20.6 ab
1.91 ab
5.22 a-c
NOVA
39.8 ab
19.6 ab
2.02 a
5.02 a-c
ST 5599BR
38.6 ab
19.3 ab
2.06 a
4.82
1517-95
30.2 b
20.4 ab
1.48 b
5.38 a-c
PM 1199R
38.8 ab
19.9 ab
1.96 ab
5.32 a-c
NM 990815
38.4 ab
20.6 ab
1.87 ab
5.53 a-c
BR 9605
40.1 a
20.5 ab
1.96 ab
5.32 a-c
ST5303R
38.0 ab
18.3 ab
2.12 a
5.33 a-c
RIATA
41.8 a
19.6 ab
2.14 a
5.07 a-c
AG 3601
40.6 a
19.4 ab
2.11 a
5.57 a-c
SALCOT
SACALA
40.1 a
19.9 ab
2.02 a
5.40 a-c
Average
38.6
19.8
1.96
5.26
LSD(05)
8.1
2.8
0.4
0.65
CV(%)
14.8
9.9
15.9
8.8
c
1. Values, within a column, followed by the same letter are not significantly different at the 95% level of confidence
using Duncan’s multiple range test.
Arizona Cotton Report (P-138) May 2004
118
Table 3. HVI data for Acala variety study, Safford Agricultural Center, 2003.
Variety
DP 555
Color Leaf Mike Length Staple Strength Uniformity HVI HVI
Grade Grade
Trash Color
Color
RD
+B
Lint
Value
¢/lb1
21
3.5
5.4
1.13
36
31.2
82.5
0.4
21-1
81
8.4
67.02
FM991BR
21/31
4
5.1
1.16
37
33.0
84
0.6
21-2
80
8.1
70.27
DP 5690R
11/21
3.5
5.2
1.10
36
32.0
82
0.5
11.2
82
8.2
69.02
DP 451BR
21
5.1
5.1
1.15
37
32.9
82.5
0.5
21-2
80
8.4
69.87
SIERRA
21/31
4
4.9
1.11
36
30.2
82.5
0.5
21-1
79
8.5
70.77
FR 991R
21
4
5.2
1.12
36
31.1
82
0.3
21-1
82
8.5
69.02
21/31
4
5.2
1.13
37
34.1
83
0.6
21-2
80
8.4
70.17
DP 655
21
4
5.2
1.08
35
30.9
83
0.7
21-2
80
8.5
68.47
FM 989BR
21
4
5.1
1.10
35
30.1
82
0.4
21-1
83
7.9
67.92
NM 99813
21
4
5.2
1.15
37
33.5
83
0.7
21-2
80
8.6
70.17
1517-99
21
4
5.2
1.11
36
30.9
82
0.4
21-1
81
8.4
69.02
NOVA
11/21
4
5.4
1.11
36
31.6
82
0.5
11-2
81
8.7
67.02
ST 5599BR
21
4
5.1
1.15
37
31.7
83
0.4
21-1
81
8.5
70.17
1517-95
21
4
5.1
1.14
37
33.5
84
0.4
21-2
81
7.8
70.27
PM 1199R
31
4
5.2
1.15
37
33.1
83
0.8
31-1
80
7.8
69.67
NM 990815
21/31
3.5
5.2
1.18
38
34.2
83
0.6
21-1
80
8.3
71.02
BR 9605
21
4
5.5
1.12
36
30.3
83
0.5
21-1
81
8.7
67.07
ST5303R
21
4
5.0
1.13
36
31.3
83
0.5
21-1
80
8.8
69.32
RIATA
21
4
5.1
1.15
37
32.3
83
0.5
21-1
81
8.5
70.17
AG 3601
21/31
3.5
5.3
1.14
37
32.9
84
0.6
21-1
81
8.0
68.27
SALCOT
SACALA
11/21
3.5
5.1
1.12
36
33.0
83
0.5
11-2
82
8.2
69.52
--
3.9
5.2
1.13
36.4
32.1
82.8
0.5
--
DP 449BR
Average
80.76 8.343
69.25
1. Estimated lint value per pound using data from www.ams.usda.gov/mnreprots/MP_CN207.txt, February 12, 2004.
Arizona Cotton Report (P-138) May 2004
119
30
HU (86/55 F)
25
20
15
10
5
0
HU Avg
Apr 15
May 15
Jun 15
HU 2003
Jul 15
DATE
Aug 15
Sep 15
Oct 15
Figure 1. Heat units (86/55EF) during the 2003 cotton growing season and average data from 1987 to 2002.
Arizona Cotton Report (P-138) May 2004
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