1. Guy D. Collins, Ph.D. Extension Cotton Agronomist Overview of Cotton Agronomic Research & Extension Program

3. What is your most limiting factor ??? Water (soils, irrigation capacity, historical rainfall) Weed control (technology options for pigweed control) Plant growth (achieving optimal height, droughty soils, PGRs) Diseases, nematodes, insects (leaf hairiness) Planting date, timeliness of inputs Realistic Yield Potential – field x field basis Variety performance information… Official Variety Trials (OVT) UGA Uniform Cotton Variety Performance Evaluation Program (County agents) Industry variety trials Growers with similar soils/practices Your own experience Variety selection criteria

4. UGA OnFarm Cotton Variety Performance Evaluation Program

5. Variety 1234567891011121314151617181920212223 Combined Average DP 1050458421484581705716673924915106210451156113113691324117412091369153314071585160916281064 DP 104843338350357769255374291985796510141089117110851156124213241327148213521426150417131022 ST 545840945240851665876968981579510389561013118912311169118813231425132513671526150715531014 FM 1740417389434416619598607824766964948103611911049119912111197124813501455126214741603968 PHY 3754414724714586936446268368391064940108910941123113111741147123612761391131513461434967 PHY 56540535246250463669460181186478790992312021073125912041158129213731261132114661635965 ST 4288429490486 67070976977484778489410999561000111012111163138711951256138812971481951 DP 09493914524485005126106417618208781012109410691165112211071209139012571304139312551335945 Loc. Average 42342646250564866166883383894396510621125113711841189121613341349 140214321548 2010 UGAUCVPEP Stability & Consistency (TOP 2) Collins & Whitaker, 2010

6. Variety123456789101112131415 Combined Average PHY 499 2274308988038351012917138013441606171416481773173717131202 DP 1137 215344917785823923958129514451626149515991799177417461183 DP 1050 228310821792821945927116013691564152915931775167717331150 DP 1048 216304705782765810891126113851542146715301654169817051114 ST 5458 163371699743 9401060118513821399153215411656160715501105 FM 1740 147305635726715975928111314281461158515411507163316261088 ST 4288 202340590671789878995118814531367149514371489156815581068 PHY 375 189316729700608820850112614311473147916451516152515361063 PHY 565 14831859267164173372210001060119113811465141814671588960 Loc. Average 193337732741749893916119013661470152015551621163216391104 2011 UGAUCVPEP Stability & Consistency (TOP 1) Collins & Whitaker, 2011

7. Variety1234567891011121314 Combined Average DP 1252 B2RF 97312501221132913661457123614851549143615911850188219261468 DP 1137 B2RF 75913631201125313891372139614611400152114861784208019431458 DP 1050 B2RF 112012321215115113261470134014391490156714821741185819091453 PHY 499 WRF 118510131183160112661291126914041357139814951682193318431423 ST 5458 B2RF 130710431164115111231114128012911505143114141559171017231344 FM 1944 GLB2 111810481175101212251195123112691410139014241550158318731322 FM 1740 B2F 9651036110410431163993137512761221150213711496164718391288 AM 1511 B2RF 1184911115713331148119896313471284116814401576158415921277 PHY 565 WRF 9059681138107210781160121412591280131213811400166817431256 DP 0912 B2RF 9657611152115111231256102512541257108314251548155615971225 PHY 375 WRF 101293589211731081904121211461030124813031377163315651179 Loc. Average 10451057114612061208121912311330134413691437159717391778 2012 Roundup-Based On-Farm Trials (TOP 3) Collins & Whitaker, 2012

8. Variety 1234567891011 Combined Average PHY 499 WRF7989951275138112741376131913531578195817141366 FM 1944 GLB27598291039108313721383130314941650142316821274 PHY 565 WRF6359161132124511691280128112661435171115411238 FM 1845 LLB26518301004108012311187136613181471132215901186 ST 5445 LLB262684390497610471259111514341611143516531173 PHY 375 WRF5858981041108810961205124313081271146714601151 ST 4145 LLB267078783611099921074115111411275118613371051 Loc. Average 675871103311381169125212541331147015001568 2012 Liberty-Based On-Farm Trials (TOP 2) Collins & Whitaker, 2012

9. Variety Selection Error Cotton Price $ / lb. Highest Cost $ / A Lowest Cost $ / A Average Cost (14 Trials) $ / A Top Variety vs Bottom Variety $1 603288456 Top 4 Avg. vs Mid 4 Avg. $1 27443162 Top 4 Avg. vs Bottom 3 Avg. $1 394160298 Top Variety vs Bottom Variety $ 0.75 452216342 Top 4 Avg. vs Mid 4 Avg. $ 0.75 20532121 Top 4 Avg. vs Bottom 3 Avg. $ 0.75 295120223 2012 Cost of Improper Variety Selection (Roundup-based Trials) Collins & Whitaker, 2012

10. Variety Selection Error Cotton Price $ / lb. Highest Cost $ / A Lowest Cost $ / A Average Cost (14 Trials) $ / A Top Variety vs Bottom Variety $1 603288456 Top 4 Avg. vs Mid 4 Avg. $1 27443162 Top 4 Avg. vs Bottom 3 Avg. $1 394160298 Top Variety vs Bottom Variety $ 0.75 452216342 Top 4 Avg. vs Mid 4 Avg. $ 0.75 20532121 Top 4 Avg. vs Bottom 3 Avg. $ 0.75 295120223 2012 Cost of Improper Variety Selection (Roundup-based Trials) Collins & Whitaker, 2012 For 2012 Acreage: $157,300,000 - $444,600,000

11. Variety IrwinPierceColquitt Combined Average GA 3035218631085823 GA 2305068721004794 All-Tex LA122500834985773 LA 1110035507841941763 DP 393498807978761 PHY 440W532915831759 LA 1110017508752976746 SSG Linwood3907481086741 Loc. Average495846996 2010 GA County Variety Trials - Conventionals Stability & Consistency Collins & Whitaker, 2010

14. www.ugacotton.com

16. 1 st Position Boll Distribution Main-stem Node Bolls/A

18. Height, main-stem nodes, lint yield and gin turnout affected by PGR regime in Midville and Tifton. 1 PGR Regime HeightMain-stem NodesLint YieldGin Turnout MidvilleTiftonMidvilleTiftonMidvilleTiftonMidvilleTifton ---- inches ----------- no. -------------- lbs/A ------ ----- % ----- No PGR55.4 a48.4 a22.1 a19.4 a1453 b1970 a40.3 a42.0 a PGR40.7 b39.9 b20.4 b18.7 b1521 a1710 b39.6 b40.6 b 1 Means within a column followed by same letter are not significantly different at P=0.1.

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21. Relative PGR Requirements of Cotton Varieties (PGR REQUIRMENTS VARY – use only as guide) ClassificationVarietiesPGR Recommendations 1 Varieties with the most vegetative growth potential, require intensive PGR management DP 0949 B2RF DP 1048 B2RF DP 1050 B2RF DP 1137 B2RF DP 1252 B2RF PHY 499 WRF Applications - MULTIPLE Initiation - PRIOR TO BLOOM Product – MC (all applications, rates vary) 2 Varieties with similar growth potential of 1 st class, yet more responsive to PGRs or earlier in maturity PHY 565 WRF ST 4145 LLB2 Applications – MULTIPLE, MOST CASES Initiation – Squaring to 1 st Bloom Product - 1 st application - Stance or MC - Sequential app. – MC only 3 Varieties may require PGRs, but pre-bloom initiation not typically necessary, could result in premature cutout, esp. in dryland conditions AM 1511 B2RF DP 0912 B2RF PHY 375 WRF FM 1773 B2RF DP 1133 B2RF ST 5458 B2RF Applications – ONE to MULTIPLE Initiation - Bloom initiation likely sufficient Product - 1 st app. (Stance or MC, low rates) - seq. applications - Stance or MC 4 Varieties that may need no PGR applications, or almost always not applied prior to bloom FM 1740 B2RF FM 1944 B2RF FM 1845 LLB2 ST 4288 B2RF Application – NONE to ONE Initiation - Bloom initiation almost always Product – Stance or MC (  rates)

22. UGA Irrigation Recs Weekly Water Requirements (inches per week) First Bloom

23. SSDI & OVHD Irrigation Research

24. Sensor-Based Treatments Watermark moisture potential sensors

25. Treatments Checkbook method-UGA determination for water requirements: 100% UGA Checkbook65% UGA Checkbook Growth Stage Cm Per Week Cm/day (1/3 weekly rate) Applied on M, W, F Cm Per Week Cm/day (1/3 weekly rate) Applied on M, W, F Prior to Bloom 2.540.851.650.55 1 st week of bloom 2.540.851.650.55 2 nd week of bloom 3.811.272.480.83 3 rd week of bloom 5.081.693.301.10 4 th week of bloom 5.081.693.301.10 5 th week of bloom 3.811.272.480.83 6 th week of bloom 3.811.272.480.83 7 th weed of bloom 2.540.851.650.55 8 th week of bloom 2.540.851.650.55 END OF BLOOM and afterwards 1.910.641.220.41

26. A AB B C C C D Lint Yield: Deep vs Shallow SDI* p < 0.1 * Data pooled over locations & varieties

27. A AB B C C C D Lint Yield: SDI Depth by Trigger* p < 0.1 * Data pooled over locations & varieties

28. Lint Yield – Variety * Irrigation Treatment (averaged across locations) C A E C B E C D CC FM 1740 > DP 1050 = 40 cb, 70 cb, and 100% FM 1740 = DP 1050 = dryland, 65% UGA recs.

31. Total Water (Irr & Rain)

32. Prebloom Irrigation DP 0912 B2RF FM 1944 GLB2

33. Prebloom Irrigation DP 1050 B2RF PHY 499 WRF

34. Final Plant Height* A * Data pooled over locations and PGR trt cm DP 555 FM 1740 * Data pooled over locations and variety p = < 0.0001 p = 0.0669 No PGR ST 2 ST 3 ST 4 MC 8 MC 12 B A B BC C C D

35. Final Plant Height* A cm * Data pooled over locations p = 0.0757 B B BC CDE DEF EFG CDE BCD FG DEF G

36. Final Plant Height* cm * Data pooled over locations p = 0.0757

37. Lint Yield DP 555 BR* kg/ha * Data pooled over locations p = 0.1590 *** * **

38. Lint Yield FM 1740 B2F* kg/ha * Data pooled over locations p = 0.1590 * * *

39. DP 1050 B2RF FM 1740 B2F Mepex 12 oz/A @ 9-10 leaves Mepex 8 oz/A @ 9-10 leaves

40. Stance 3 oz/A @ 9-10 leaves Stance 2 oz/A @ 9-10 leaves DP 1050 B2RF FM 1740 B2F

41. Plant Height (inches) a abc de gh ab bcd cde gh abc bcd fg i de ef h i

42. Plant Height (inches)

43. Avoid yield-limiting PGR applications

44. 2,4-D Drift

45. Leaf and bract characteristics of varieties from Georgia trials in 2012. Variety Company Rating Leaf Trichomes (cm -2 ) Bract Trichomes (cm -1 ) Leaf Area (cm²) Bract Area (cm²) Leaf Grade PHY 499WRF Semi- Smooth 585.2 a† 52.2 a129.6 a9.56 a 3.50 ST 5458B2RFHairy286.4 b 37.5 bc117.57.98 b 3.25 PHY 367WRF Semi- Smooth 267.7 b 39.1 b121.4 b7.45 bc 3.25 DP 1044B2RF Semi- Smooth 235.8 b 33.1 c121.5 b6.90 c 3.75 FM 1740B2FSmooth38.3 c 39.8 b121.4 b7.96 b 3.00 P>F <0.01 0.02 <0.01 NS %CV 51.3 25.613.1 16.6 35.5 LSD 64.1 4.607.070.58 1.79 †Means followed by the same letter in a column are not significantly different at P = 0.05

46. Universal Quantification of Maturity

48. Lint Yield LSD = 187 1 Application 2 Applications

49. Variety LSD (0.05) = 60 Lint to Seed ratio (%)

51. Thank You