Friday, January 12, 2007 - 8:15 AM

Performance of Blizzard as a Cotton Harvest Aid in Texas

Mark Kelley1, Randy Boman1, R. Lemon2, and Joel Pigg1. (1) Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M Research and Extension Center, Route 3 Box 213AA, Lubbock, TX 79403, (2) Texas AgriLife Extension Service, 348 Soil and Crop Sciences/Heep Center, College Station, TX 77843-2474

The use of Protoporphyrinogen Oxidase (PPO) inhibitors as cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) harvest aids has increased in Texas over the last few years. Products such as Aim2EC and ET have been proven to be effective defoliants/desiccants when applied to cotton under suitable conditions. In 2006, Chemtura introduced another PPO inhibitor to be used as a cotton harvest aid. Small plot replicated research trials were established in Texas to determine if Blizzard is comparable to earlier released PPO inhibitors in terms of defoliation and/or desiccation. The PPO inhibitors were applied to cotton at comparable rates in tank mixes with ethephon boll openers. Plots were visually rated for percent open boll, defoliation, desiccation and green leaves at approximately 7 and 14 days after initial application (DAIT) and percent terminal and basal regrowth control at 28 DAIT. Previous small plot research results in Texas have indicated acceptable levels of performance from these harvest aids when applied under suitable conditions. These products have also shown to be important harvest aid tools for control of juvenile growth in the terminal of cotton plants.