Evaluation of Soil Conditioners and Water Treatments for Cotton Production Systems

Abstract

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.