Effect of Combinations of Accelerate and other Defoliants on Defoliation and Yield of Pima and Upland Cotton

Abstract

Field studies were conducted at the Maricopa Agricultural center to evaluate the effectiveness of Accelerate when used in combination with other defoliants. In addition, an experimental compound was tested as a boll opener. Air temperatures were very high at the time these tests were conducted and most defoliant treatments caused desiccation of Pima leaves 7 days after treatments were applied. Several treatments did result in acceptable defoliation of Pima cotton 14 days after application. In the upland test, Ginstar used alone resulted in higher defoliation percentages than any combination of defoliants. Boll opener treatments had no effect on boll opening of Pima or upland cotton. In these tests, there were no differences among treatments in lint yield or fiber properties.