COTTON VARIETY PERFORMANCE TRIALS - 1999

Cotton variety trials are carried out as part of the Cotton Project of 
the University of Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station located at 
the U.M.C. Delta Center.  These tests are conducted to provide a 
reliable, unbiased, up-to-date source of information for comparing 
varieties.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

Four locations were selected to represent the range of conditions 
found in the cotton growing area of southeastern Missouri.  All 
locations were planted on 38" row spacing.  Johnny Hux's farm near 
Sikeston (Bosket fine sandy loam soil), Charles Provance's farm near 
Clarkton (Bosket fine sandy loam soil), Scott Andrew's farm near 
Senath (Dubbs silt loam soil).  The trials at the Portageville 
location were planted at the UMC Delta Center's Lee Farm.  
Portageville irrigated trials were planted on Tiptonville sandy loam 
soil, while the Portageville clay trial was planted on Portageville 
Clay.

Field Plot Design:  The trials were arranged in a randomized complete 
block design with four replications.  The plots were four rows wide 
and 37 feet long, with the center two rows being used for yield and 
other data.  Plots were end trimmed to 31 feet in length prior to 
harvest, to eliminate end plant effect.

Entries:  All producers of cottonseed were eligible to enter varieties 
in the 1999 evaluation trials.  Participation was voluntary and no 
control was exercised by the program over which or how many varieties 
were entered.  However, to help finance the evaluation programs, a fee 
of $350 was charged for each variety entered by the seed producers.  A 
total of 56 cotton varieties were compared in 1999, as outlined in the 
following table.

Brand               Varieties                    Firm and Address           
                                                 Phone Number
Seed Source         SS 9801, SS 9806,            Seed Source, Inc.          
                    SS 9901                      P.O. Box 28
                                                 Stoneville, MS  38776
                                                 601-686-7855 

Fiber Max           FM 989, FM 819               Aventis Crop Science       
                                                 311 Poplar View Lane West 
                                                 Collierville, TN  38017
                                                 901-853-4188

Deltapine           DP 409 B/R, DP 20 BG         Deltapine Seed             
                    DP 388. DP 5111, DP 425 RR   P.O. Box 157  
                    DP 436 RR, DP 428 BG,        Scott, MS  38772 
                    DP 451 B/R, DP 429 RR,       601-742-4182
                    DP 422 B/R

Helena Chemical     HCR 9310, HCR 9240,          Helena Cotton Research
                    HCR 7126, HCR 7114,          2250 N. Pinal Ave.  Suite 3
                    HCR 9257, HCR 7114-46        Casa Grande, AZ  85222
                    HCR 9220, HCR 9228,          502-836-3844
                    HCR 7061-39

Paymaster           PM 1218 B/R, PM 1560 B/R,    Paymaster Cottonseed
                    PM 1220 B/R, PM X0425,       1301 E. 50th
                    PM 1440, PM 1560 BG,         Lubbock, TX  79404
                    PM 1330 BG, PM 1220 RR       806-740-1600

Phytogen            PSC 355, PSC 952, PSC 569    Phytogen Seed Co.
                    PSC 636, PSC 556             P.O. Box 27
                                                 Leland, MS  38756
                                                 601-686-7900

Texas Planting Co.  TX 224                       South Texas Planting Seed
                                                 P.O. Box 16
                                                 Mercedes, TX  78570
                                                 956-565-1216

Arkansas            AR 8712                      Notheast Res. & Ext.
                                                 P.O. Box 48
                                                 Keiser, AR  72351
                                                 870-526-2199

Stoneville          STV 474, STV 47 BXN,         Stoneville Pedigreed Seed Co.
                    ST4691 B, ST4892 B/R,        6625 Lenox Park Dr.
                    STV X9903                    Memphis, TN  38115-4397
                                                 901-375-5836

Sure-Grow           SG 747, SG 125, SG 501,      Sure Grow Seed, Inc.
                    SG 105, SG 125 B/R,          7265 Alabama Hwy 9 South
                    SG 125 RR, SG 501 B/R        Centre, AL  35960
                                                 205-927-5561
            
Terra               TR 292, TR 366               Terra International, Inc.
                                                 117 Kennedy Flat Rd.
                                                 Leland, MS  38756
                                                 601-686-9235

Agripro             AP 7115, AP 6101             AgriPro Seeds
                                                 761 Walnut Lane - Suite 200     
                                                 Memphis, TN  38018
                                                 901-844-7333
            
Dyna-Grow           DG 201


Plot Management:  The trials were planted with commercial equipment 
modified for small plot work.  The fields were managed during the 
growing season by the producer/cooperator.  Once-over harvest was 
completed using a Case 1822 picker.  The seed cotton was ginned on a 
20-saw Continental micro-gin equipped with an incline cleaner along 
with a single stage lint cleaner.

Data Recorded:   Lint yields are reported in pounds of lint per acre.  
H.V.I. quality characteristics of the lint were analyzed at the 
International Textile Center in Lubbock, Texas and the results are 
presented with the yield and other agronomic data.

Fiber Quality:  Fiber quality characteristics were determined for each 
variety utilizing lint samples from all replications at each test 
location.  These characteristics and their importance are described 
below.

A:  Micronaire (Mic):  The micronaire test provides a combined measure 
of maturity and fineness of cotton fibers.  Fiber maturity is a 
relative measure of cell-wall thickening.  Immature fibers result in  
the production of yarns and fabrics with low quality.  In the test, 
air is passed through a compressed sample of cotton fiber.  The rate 
of flow through the sample follows a relationship between diameter or 
thickness of the textile fibers and the air resistance they provide.  
Finer fibers result in greater resistance and therefore, a lesser air 
flow.  Micronaire values that are very low or very high are 
undesirable.  A low micronaire implies the fiber is either fine or 
immature.  A high micronaire is indicative of a very coarse fiber.  
Value recorded can be interpreted as follows:  

		Below 3.6 = fine and often immature
		3.7 - 4.9 = premium range
		Above 4.9 = coarse fibers


B:  Uniformity:  Fiber uniformity is a measure of the degree of 
uniformity of fiber length in a sample.  Uniformity is calculated as a 
ratio of the average length of all fibers to the average length of the 
longest half of the fibers in the sample.  The ratio is then 
multiplied by 100.  High uniformity values are desirable and indicate 
uniform fiber lengths.

		Below 77.0  = Very high
		77.1 - 79.0 = Low
		79.1 - 82.0 = Average
		82.1 - 85.0 = High
		Above 85.1  = Very High


C:  Strength:  Fiber strength is reported in grams per tex.  A tex 
unit is equal to the weight in grams of 1000 m of fiber.  The strength 
values are reported in grams of force required to break one tex unit 
if fibers with the holding jaws separated 1/8 in.  The 1/8 in. jaw 
spread breaks the fibers at the weak point.  High fiber strength 
enables the yarn to be spun at a faster rate and produces a stronger 
yarn. The following chart categorizes strength readings and aids in 
the interpretation of strength values for an 1/8 in. gauge.  

		
		Below  23.9 = Very Low
		24.0 - 26.9 = Low
		27.9 - 29.9 = Average
		Above 30.0  = High 


D:  Length:   Fiber length is reported in hundredths of an inch as 
measured by a fiber-graph instrument and is the average of the longest 
half of the fibers in the sample, upper half mean (UHM).  Long fibers 
are desirable because they produce greater yarn strength, aid in 
spinning finer yarns.

		Below 0.97  = Short
		0.97 - 1.10 = Medium
		1.11 - 1.28 = Long
		Above 1.28  = Extra Long

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