A series of boll measurements were taken at several locations across the state in 1995 in an attempt to develop a yield prediction model. Measurements were taken out of two strip plot variety trials at the University of Arizona Maricopa Agricultural Center and in the Coolidge area, and also out of two commercial fields in Buckeye and Paloma Ranch over a period of approximately 2 months from peak bloom through cut-out. Data analysis revealed a best fit model that included seedcotton yield as a function of boll count, boll size, boll diameter, and heat units accumulated after planting (HUAP). A series of open boll counts were also taken from over 120 experimental units across the state within one week of harvest. The data revealed strongest relationships between final open boll counts and yield.

Forty one short staple varieties were grown in a replicated field trial on the Safford Agricultural Center. DP 5690 was the highest yielding variety with a yield of 1302 pounds of lint per acre with DP 90 in second place but with 100 pounds of lint less per acre. Seedcotton yields were essentially identical to 1994.

The 1995 cotton season proved to be one of the most challenging in marry years. Cold, dry spring weather delayed planting and forced many growers to replant a significant portion of their crop. The late crop then ran into extreme summer heat in July and August and very high August humidity. Daytime temperatures in excess of 120°F were reported in the low deserts in July and many locations reported extended periods with daytime temperatures above 1107. Poor fruit retention was a common grower observation as the summer heat continued The saving grace for 1995 proved to be warm and dry fall weather which assisted late season development and harvest operations.

Advanced technologies to produce synthetic polymers such as polyacrylamide (PAM, and polymaleic anhydride (PMA) have produced products which may be economically feasible alternatives to traditional treatments such as gypsum in the desert Southwest. In 1995 a single field study was conducted at Paloma Ranch, west of Gila Bend in Maricopa County Arizona Upland Nucoton 35, DPL' was dry planted and watered -up on 10 and 11 April. Treatments consisted of various rates and times of applications of Sper Sal™, which included a check (no Sper Sal), 1 and 2 qts. /acre with the water-up irrigation; 1 and 2 qts./acre with a mid - season irrigation; and 1 qt. /acre mid-season following 1 or 2 qts./acre with the water -up irrigation. No differences among treatments were detected among any treatments in terms of plant growth and development or final lint yields. There were no early-season differences in soil crusting among the various soil amendment treatments in 1995, as opposed to 1994 when a severe rain occurred immediately following planting.

Silverleaf whitey, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring, adults and nymphs were significantly reduced season -long in cotton plots treated with fenpropathrin plus acephate on 3 occasions (15 July, 2 August and 29 August). Thermodetector sticky cotton ratings were significantly reduced in insecticide-treated plots compared with untreated plots. Heavy rains reduced cotton stickiness in all plots.

Variety trials were grown at two locations and with two different sets of short staple varieties. One trial on the Robbs farm, north of Kansas Settlement, tested eight acalas varieties from New Mexico and California. The other trial on the Curry farm, southwest of Kansas Settlement and north of Sunsites, tested twelve upland varieties as part of the statewide testing program. The latter trial was grown under drip irrigation.

Three resistance monitoring methods were tested to evaluate their relative reliability, discriminating ability, convenience, and practicality for monitoring insecticide resistance in Arizona whiteflies. Adult whiteflies were collected from the field and tested in the laboratory with three methods: leaf disk, sticky trap, and vial. Each method was evaluated against two populations divergent in susceptibility using a mixture of Danitol® + Orthene® and two single chemicals, Thiodan® and Danitol®. The Yuma population was relatively susceptible and the Gila River Basin population highly resistant. Correlations of field efficacy and leaf disk bioassays were conducted with the Yuma population and a comparatively resistant Maricopa population. At each location egg, immature, and adult whitefly densities were monitored before and after Danitol® + Orthene® treatments and resistance estimates were also monitored in the populations using leaf disk bioassays. Our results illustrated that the leaf disk method had the greatest discriminating ability between susceptible and resistant populations. The results also indicated that the vial method was the most practical, and that the sticky trap method was good at discriminating between populations that have large differences in susceptibility. The field efficacy trials indicated results from leaf disk assays reflected what had occurred in the field.

Twenty one Upland cotton advanced strains varieties which are not commercially available were evaluated in replicated field studies in 1995 on two farm sites in Queen Creek, Arizona and Buckeye, Arizona representing seven seed companies. Twenty four advanced strains representing eight seed companies were evaluated on a commercial site in Gila Bend, Arizona. Participating seed companies submitted three advanced strain entries, plus a commercially available check of their choice at each site. The Gila Bend site represented strains of a more indeterminate nature for a full season production approach, while the sites at Buckeye and Queen Creek consisted of more determinate entry characteristics to represent a reduced season production approach. The highest lint yields were obtained from Germains 9230 (1756 lb./a), Delta and Pine Land Co. 5517 (1116 lb./a), and Delta and Pine Land Co. 9057 (1578 lb./a) at Queen Creek, Buckeye, and Gila Bend respectively.

Two prototypes of a stalk burial implement were tested for energy requirements at the University of California, Shaffer Research Station. Both versions of the implement are designed to bury the cotton stalks in a concentrated zone and reform the bed in the same location. To plow under shredded stalks, both versions of the implement required less energy than a conventional tillage systems typical of the San Joaquin Valley of California. Both stalk burial implements were also used to plow under whole cotton stalks. This offers additional energy savings by eliminating the stalk shredding operation.

Chemical control studies for silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring, control on cotton showed that fenpropathrin-acephate, fenpropathrin-endosulfan, and endosulfan-bifenthrin mixtures gave adequate control and increased cotton yields were obtained as compared within untreated cottons. Pyriproxyfen, applied biweekly or alternated with fenpropathrin-acephate, Nicotiana, and a fenpropathrin-mycotrol mixture also gave effective control.