Late Planted DPL451BR Cotton Responses to Plant Growth Enhancement Products Applied at Three Crop Development Stages in Palo Verde Valley, 2003

• Main Authors: Rethwisch, M. D., Reay, M., Chaffin, G., Perez, R., Grudovich, J., Wellman, J., Hawpe, E.
• Other Authors: Tronstad, Russell
• Language: en_US
• Published: College of Agriculture, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ) 2004
• Subjects: Agriculture > Arizona; Cotton > Arizona; Physiology and growth regulators
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/198128

An experiment to investigate the effects of several plant growth enhancement products (AuxiGro7 WP, FirstChoice7 Bollster, CalMax, FoliGro7 BollSet) on DPL 451BR was conducted in the Palo Verde Valley. The cotton field chosen for this project was planted in April 2003, and flowering and boll/lint production was highly affected by summer heat, therefore product effectiveness was tested under the extreme high temperatures conditions that existed in 2003. Products were applied July 11 (shortly after first bloom), August 1st and/or August 15. Three rates (1, 2, 4 oz./acre) of AuxiGro7 WP were applied at each date, although just a single rate of other products was evaluated. Data collected included plant mapping following the first two application dates as well as lint yield and quality at harvest on October 20-23. Data indicated rate effects for treatments containing AuxiGro7 WP as noted in response to applications on August 1 (retention rates) and August 15 (cotton quality factors). These responses were signficantly different than the untreated check, and were often signficantly different than the Bollster fertilizer treatment itself as though Bollster was also included with AuxiGro7 WP treatments. Although yields for any treatment and the untreated check were not significantly different, previously noted differences for retention for the AuxiGro7 WP treatments may not have been realized due to the high temperatures and extended periods of not only Level 1 but Level 2 stress during the course of the experiment. Cotton values per acre were highest ($609.85/acre) in the 4 oz/acre of AuxiGro7 applied on August 15, due to highest valued lint as a result of micronaire of 5.2 combined with increased fiber strength and fiber length. Application of CalMax resulted in a significant increase in fiber strength following two applications of 4 oz./acre of AuxiGro7 + Bollster, but CalMax following two applications of Bollster did not affect fiber strength when compared with each of the two application treatments. A third application of FoliGro7 BollSet was detrimental for cotton yields and strength compared with only two applications of this product, although both treatment regimens resulted in shorter fibers that were not quite as strong as the untreated check.