Page 35 - 21 Cotton SA February 2020

/ RESEARCH, TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
UPDATE ON

COTTON RESEARCH TRIALS

by Dr Annette Bennett, Cotton SA

Cotton SA assists to facilitate several cultivar strip trials and other research trials that
were requested by the industry via the South African Cotton Producers’ Organisation
(SACPO). In total, 22 research trials are being undertaken for the 2019/20 season,

in cooperation with the ginneries, a private contractor, the Agricultural Research
Council – Industrial Crops (ARC-IC), and universities.

he industry is funding two students doing
postgraduate research at the North-West University
and the University of Pretoria respectively.
The assistance of Jurg Bester (Vaalharts Gin),
T Nico Swart (Koedoeskop Gin) and André Prins
(GWK Gin), together with Dr Tilla van der Westhuizen (ARC-IC),
in getting the strip trials in their areas planted and monitored,
is much appreciated.
Apart from the strip trials, two trials are being performed at
the Loskop experimental farm and the Jan Kemp research farm
(ARC-IC) to evaluate the effect of boron in relation to calcium
and potassium respectively, on cotton. In addition, two Pix trials
under irrigation are being undertaken in the Makhathini district
by Jurie Steyn (private contractor), and on the Loskop research
farm by Coleen Fourie (ARC-IC).
A word of thanks also goes to the producers who are
participating in the trials. They are contributing to research in
finding the most suitable cultivar for their area under specific
production methods. Farmers largely donated their own seed and
labour and are thanked for their input and dedication. Joseph
Kempen from Loskop Gin has donated a considerable amount
of seed to enable the planting of a large-scale cultivar dryland
trial with all varieties in the Roedtan area. The results of this trial
would benefit the dryland farmers on the Springbok Flats. Cotton
SA donated some seed where needed on behalf of SACPO to
supplement donations by farmers for the Pongola area.
A small-scale farmer trial with different plant population
densities has been planted by Jurie Steyn in the Mkuze area
for demonstration purposes. Progress on all the trials will be
reported on at a later stage.

Volume 22 No 1 February 2020 | 35