Short Staple Variety Trial in Virden, NM, 2003

This study is a continuation of the variety trials that have been grown in the Duncan/Virden area over many years to supply yield and revenue data on premium cotton varieties for local growers. In recent years, the introduction of herbicide resistant cultivars has been particularly interesting to help clean up many weedy fields. The premium quality New Mexico Acala varieties do not, at this time, have herbicide resistance traits and have struggled to produce high enough yields to compete with the lower quality varieties that are available. Fifteen cotton varieties were tested including two 1517 varieties from New Mexico, Sierra, the newest Roundup-Ready from CPCSD, Salcot Sacala, a new acala from Arizona, and the AZ Cotton Growers variety. The rest of the entries were Roundup-Ready short to mid season varieties from Delta Pine, Stoneville, FiberMax and Paymaster. The highest yielding variety in the trial was Riata, a Roundup Ready Acala from CPCSD, with a yield of 1255 pounds of lint per acre. Sierra, ST 5599RR, ST 5303R and 1517- 99 produced around 100 pounds less lint per acre than Riata but the yields were not statistically different. Plant heights, first fruiting branches (FFB), total nodes and boll weights were measured and height to node ratios were calculated. Many differences were seen between varieties with all of these variables. The values of the variables defining the characteristics of the varieties. HVI data were obtained for fiber qualities of the lint of each variety. This data was then used to determine the value of the lint and then estimate the gross revenue produced by each variety. The highest lint value (cents per pound) was produced by 1517- 99 with 1517-95 and Riata following closely behind. The highest gross revenue was produced by Riata as a combination of the high yield and high lint value