Variety Selection

Variety selection is one of the most important decisions a producer makes each year.  Because variety selection is such an important part of cotton production, the University of Tennessee conducts variety trials at branch stations and in county on-farm demonstrations.  The purpose of the University of Tennessee cotton variety testing program is to provide an unbiased evaluation of new varieties for Tennessee commercial production.  Experimental strains are also tested, and major cultivars are grown in county variety demonstrations.  Results are intended to help cotton producers identify varieties that are well adapted to Tennessee, that produce high quality fiber, and that are relatively stable in yield performance.  Results are also used by the seed industry, crop consultants, and the UT agricultural extension service to assess varietal adaptation to Tennessee field environments.  Producers are urged to evaluate varieties not only for yield, but also stability, fiber quality and earliness.  Selection of varieties should be based on multiple year and multiple location testing.  In instances where multiple years of data are unavailable, producers are urged to look at multi-location testing and advised to refrain from planting large acreages to varieties that have not been thoroughly tested. 

University of Tennessee Cotton Variety Test Results (and links to other states)