TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR ENTOMOLOGY, PLANT PATHOLOGY AND AGRONOMY
Melvin A. Newman, University of Tennessee
This project partially supported a technician at Jackson who assisted with county educational programs. The technician helped lay-out, treat, maintain, and harvest many demonstration field plots, as well as helping set up and take yields from on-farm demonstrations and helping conduct some county meetings. Also, the technician was very helpful in preparing samples for identification of diseases, insects and weeds as well as with data analysis of demonstration results.
Seedling Disease Control Tests: Over 100 seedling disease and insect control treatments were tested using the most promising in-furrow fungicides and insecticides. New formulations of Ridomil Goal (mefenoxam) were as effective as the older formula (metalaxyl). Equivalent disease control was achieved at a reduced rate of I oz. product/acre compared to 4 oz./acre with the older material. The new Terraclor Super X (TSX) formulation, 18.8 G, was found to be just as effective as the TSX 12.5 G when rates were adjusted to the same level of active ingredient. A new formulation of TSX-Di-Syston EC was found to be very effective in both seedling disease control and early control of thrips. Rovral 5OWG was found to be more effective at the higher rate of 5.2 oz./A. than the company recommended 3.4 oz./A. rate.
Grower-Location Fungicide Trials: Three locations were selected in West Tennessee to demonstrate and test new and recommended seedling disease control fungicides. These tests were set up with the county agent and a producer in each case. Each agent and producer chose the fungicides they wished to use based on their needs and equipment i. e. liquid granular or hopper-box. Calibration, planting date, seeding rate and all other details were left up to the agent and producer. Yields determined the effectiveness of each fungicide. Usually about one acre of cotton was harvested for each treatment. In most cases, the cotton plots had been planted later than normal due to rainy weather. Although plant stand was increased by fungicide treatment in all three in-furrow fungicide demonstrations, only slight yield increases were recorded. TSX in-furrow fungicide was compared to a hopperbox dust or slurry. Under light-to-moderate disease conditions, the hopper-box application was as good as the more expensive in-furrow.
Variety Trials: Ten county locations were selected to test the yield capability of 15 cotton varieties on large strip plots. The top yielding varieties were: Stoneville 474, Deltapine 5409, Stoneville BXN 47, Paymaster PM 1215 BG and Paymaster 1220 BG with yields of 997, 952, 937, 933 and 931 lbs./A respectively.
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