EVALUATION OF STRIPPER COTTON VARIETIES

Ralph Koopmann, Cooperator

Anthony Netardus, C.E.A., Author

DeWitt County, 1995, Precinct #3

SUMMARY:

13 varieties of cotton were compared in the DeWitt County variety trial in 1995. The highest yielding variety was Sure-Grow SGS 404 which produced 895 pounds of lint per acre. The average yield of all varieties was 816 pounds making this an exceptional year for cotton in DeWitt County. The 1995 average yield was 256 pounds more than in 1994 and 481 pounds more than in 1993.

PURPOSE:

Variety trials are conducted around the state to determine adaptability and production potential in each location. These 13 varieties are compared to presently used varieties to help producers determine potential varieties that will help increase yields, thus increasing profit.

PROCEDURE:

Date planted: April 2, 1995

Date harvested: August 9, 1995

Fertilizer: 88 lbs. of N; 35 lbs. of P; 10 lbs. of K; 10 lbs. of S; and 2.5 lbs. of Zn

Herbicide: 3/4 pt. Command + 1 pt. Cotoran (19" Band)

Insecticide: 7 lbs. Thimet; 1/4 lb. Orthene; & 16 oz. Thiodan

Growth Regulator: 4 oz. of Pix

Previous Crop: Hay Grazer

Soil Type: Clay Loam

Varieties were planted in 3 row plots on 38" row spacing. Cotton was hand harvested.

RESULTS:

Although conditions were dry, there was enough moisture at the right times to produce a good cotton crop in DeWitt County this year.

Sure-Grow SG 404 was the highest yielding variety producing 895 pounds of lint per acre. The average of all 13 varieties was 816 pounds per acre. There was a difference in yield of 120 pounds from top to bottom. At $.80 per pound this would show a difference of $96 per acre gross income.

CONCLUSION:

Varieties perform differently from location, soil type and conditions within a county and region or part of the state. Variety selection is critical in any farming operation. County demonstrations and the District Standardized tests will give a broader comparison between varieties. Several years of comparing varieties should result in the selection of the most proven varieties.

Table 1

COTTON VARIETY COMPARISON

Ralph Koopman Farm

DeWitt County, Texas, 1995

Precinct 3



COMPANY



VARIETY

PLT POP

(1000s)

%

TURNOUT

BOLLS/

LB LINT

LINT

LB/AC

SURE-GROW SGS 404 61.5 36.8 317 895
DELTAPINE DPL 5409 76.0 39.2 346 866
STONEVILLE STV 474 48.5 39.9 301 852
STONEVILLE STV 132 38.5 40.2 269 818
HARTZ H1244 44.2 39.0 276 811
STPSA MD 51 NE 80.7 37.3 319 809
DELTAPINE DPL 50 53.5 35.9 313 807
PAYMASTER HS 44 58.0 37.1 337 807
STONEVILLE LA 887 61.0 39.5 258 802
SURE-GROW SGS 501 40.8 39.1 277 792
TAMU CABCS 41.2 37.0 326 791
DELTAPINE DPL 5415 53.7 39.0 326 782
HOLLAND H 186 69.0 36.4 308 775
AVERAGE 55.9 38.2 306 816




























Table 2

FIBER QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS

Ralph Koopman Farm

DeWitt County, Texas, 1995

Precinct 3





COMPANY



VARIETY

MICRO-NAIRE LENGTH

(INCHES)

UNIFORM

RATIO

STRENGTH

(G/TEX)

%

ELONG.

SURE-GROW SGS 404 3.9 1.08 82.7 31.0 6.7
DELTAPINE DPL 5409 3.5 1.08 81.7 26.3 7.1
STONEVILLE STV 474 4.0 1.08 83.4 24.2 6.2
STONEVILLE STV 132 3.5 1.08 82.6 25.9 7.4
HARTZ H1244 3.7 1.12 85.2 27.8 7.6
STPSA MD 51 NE 3.6 1.10 82.2 32.4 6.4
DELTAPINE DPL 50 3.9 1.12 81.9 23.0 7.4
PAYMASTER HS 44 3.7 1.08 81.7 25.8 6.4
STONEVILLE LA 887 3.9 1.10 83.7 29.9 6.8
SURE-GROW SGS 501 4.2 1.08 83.5 32.2 7.1
TAMU CABCS 2.8 1.06 79.7 21.7 7.2
DELTAPINE DPL 5415 4.0 1.09 82.3 26.9 7.1
HOLLAND H 186 3.3 1.04 81.1 28.6 6.6
AVERAGE 3.7 1.09 82.4 27.4 6.9