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Tennessee 2025 County Standardized Cotton Cultivar Testing

Applied Research

Lindsay Stephenson
Extension Agent
University of Tennessee
Brownsville

Abstract

Poster Application for Applied Research

TENNESSEE 2025 COUNTY STANDARDIZED COTTON CULTIVAR TESTING  

Stephenson, L.1, Raper, T.2

1 Extension Agent III, County Director, Brownsville, TN 38012

2 Pettigrew Cotton Specialist, Jackson, TN 38301

The University of Tennessee Cotton Agronomy Program provides an unbiased evaluation of commercial cotton varieties available for production in Tennessee each year through the County Standardized Trials (CST) program. These CSTs are large-plot variety strip trials located throughout the western and central regions of Tennessee and include the major commercial cultivars currently available to producers. Yield and fiber quality data generated from these trials serve as a foundation for seed selection decisions for future crops across the region. During the 2025 growing season, data were collected from fourteen CST locations. Nineteen cotton varieties were submitted by their respective companies for evaluation. Each variety was planted in a single plot at each location and managed according to the cooperating producer’s standard production practices. Plot sizes ranged from six to twelve rows in width and from approximately 125 to more than 2,500 feet in length, depending on field size and equipment availability.  At harvest, plots were picked using the producer’s equipment. When basket-style pickers were used, harvested cotton was weighed by catching the cotton in a boll buggy prior to dumping into the module builder. For onboard round-module pickers, modules were wrapped at the end of each plot and weighed using portable scales. Regardless of harvest method, approximately six pounds of seed cotton were collected from each plot and transported to the University of Tennessee Cotton MicroGin for analysis. Subsamples were ginned at the UT MicroGin and fiber quality was determined by the USDA Classing Office in Memphis, Tennessee. The 2025 data revealed significant differences among varieties for lint yield, turnout, and fiber quality.  Continued producer requests for this information demonstrate the value of these trials. 

 

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: Lindsay Stephenson, Tyson Raper
  1. Stephenson, L. Extension Agent, University of Tennessee, Tennessee, 38012
  2. Raper, T. Pettigrew Cotton Specialist, University of Tennessee, Tennessee, 38301