Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Effect Of Planting Dates Of No-Till And Conventional Corn On Soils With Restricted Drainage, James H. Herbek, Lloyd W. Murdock, Robert L. Blevins

Agronomy Notes

No-till corn is best adapted to well drained soils. It is on these soils that no-till has been most successful and the practice most widely accepted. On soils that are moderately well to somewhat poorly drained, no-till corn can also be successful but more management is required. Three areas which require more attention are weed control, nitrogen management and planting. It has long been recognized that no-tilling results in cooler soil temperatures which can delay and reduce seed germination and seedling emergence. Additional research also indicates that diseases which attack the corn seedling in the emergence stage are more prevalent …

Summary Of Alfalfa Variety Trials In Kentucky (1971-1983), Roy E. Sigafus

Agronomy Notes

This note shows comparable yields for 22 out of 100 alfalfa varieties which have been tested in at least three trials at Lexington or Princeton since 1971. Varieties not listed include many taken off the market, varieties known to be unsuited to Kentucky, or those which need further testing.

Yield results from seven separate trials are given in Table 1 as average annual dry matter yields (T/A) and as % relative yield (RY) as compared to Vernal. Vernal was used in each trial as a standard check and on the soils of limestone origin at Lexington and Princeton averaged over …

Performance Of Tall Fescue Varieties [1984], Robert C. Buckner, Paul B. Burrus Ii, Nelson Gay, James A. Boling, Garry D. Lacefield

Agronomy Notes

The objective of the tall fescue breeding program is the development of varieties characterized by superior nutritive value (including reduced contents of perloline and loline alkaloids and the fungal endophyte, Epichloe typhina, (Acremonium coenophialum), palatability, disease resistance, and adaptation through the utilization of intergeneric and interspecific hybrid derivatives of ryegtass and tall fescue species. Varieties previously released from the breeding program were Kentucky 31, Kenwell; and Kenhy. Johnstone tall fescue, developed cooperatively by the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and USDA-ARS, was released March 1, 1982, as a new variety. Johnstone is characterized as having low levels of perloline alkaloid and …

Fertilization Practices For Double Cropping Systems, John H. Grove

Agronomy Notes

Double cropping has become an important practice in the state of Kentucky. While the wheat-soybean grain intensive production system is the most widely used on an acreage basis (approx. 3/4 million acres per year) several other systems are being adopted by Kentucky growers. Most of these involve some silage production for beef and/or dairy cattle. The fall seeded small grain (wheat, barley, triticale) is harvested at an immature stage of growth and ensiled and a subsequent crop for silage (corn, grain sorghum) or grain (soybean, grain sorghum) is planted. The use of reduced and no-tillage management will speed up planting …

N:S Ratio Of Forages In Kentucky, Kenneth L. Wells

Agronomy Notes

Concern has been expressed during recent years that sulfur may have become more limiting for plant growth and subsequently ruminant animal nutrition than was expected. This likelihood is based largely on the fact that (a) the inherent sulfur content of fertilizer phosphates has greatly diminished with declining use of normal superphosphate in manufacture of mixed fertilizers, (b) increased regulatory effect on burning of high sulfur fuels, and (c) increased use of nitrogen fertilizers for production of animal feeds. Assumedly, any or all these factors could result in alteration of nitrogen and sulfur content of forages to the point that either …

Performance Of Tall Fescue Varieties, Robert C. Buckner, Paul B. Burrus Ii, Nelson Gay, Garry D. Lacefield

Agronomy Notes

The objective of the tall fescue breeding program is the development of varieties characterized by superior nutritive value (including reduced contents of perloline and loline alkaloids and the fungal endophyte, Epichloe typhina), palatability, disease resistance, and adaptation through the utilization of intergeneric and interspecific hybrid derivatives of ryegrass and tall fescue species. Varieties previously released from the breeding program were, Kentucky 31, Kenwell, and Kenhy. Johnstone tall fescue, developed cooperatively by the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and USDA-ARS, was released March 1, 1982, as,a new variety. Johnstone is characterized as having low levels of perloline alkaloid and the fungal endophyte, …

An Estimate Of The Soil Fertility Status Of Graves And Todd Counties In Kentucky, Kenneth L. Wells, D. E. Peaslee, Marvin Davidson, William Green

Agronomy Notes

Some concern has developed during recent years that fertilizer is being used by farmers on fields with residual levels of P and K high enough that such use is not justified as a means of increasing crop yields. This has been due to increased "average" soil test values for samples routinely submitted to college soil test laboratories.

For this reason, studies were conducted in Graves and Todd Counties in Kentucky during the period September, 1978 to September, 1980, to determine if soil samples routinely submitted to college test laboratories do or do not accurately reflect the average soil fertility status …

Red Clover Variety Trials Through 1982, Roy E. Sigafus, Norman L. Taylor, Garry D. Lacefield

Agronomy Notes

Care should be taken by growers to obtain red clover seed of known origin, variety, germination, and purity. Whenever possible, purchase of certified seed of adapted varieties is strongly advised. Varieties such as Altaswede, Norlac, and Ottawa from Canada; Arlington and Lakeland from Wisconsin; Pennscott from Pennsylvania; Chesapeake from Maryland; and Tensas from Louisiana are not as well suited for use in Kentucky as are Kenland, Kenstar, and a few other varieties developed for the general area of Kentucky.

Efficiency Of Nitrogen Use With Corn On A Tiled And Untiled Soil, Lloyd W. Murdock, John Kavanaugh, Harold F. Miller, Grant Thomas, Monroe Rasnake

Agronomy Notes

Excessive water is one of the largest contributors to the inefficient use of nitrogen in Kentucky. Because of this, nitrogen is often lost by both leaching and,denitrification. The amount, of these losses can be great depending on soil type and weather. Well-drained soils in Kentucky have been shown to lose less nitrogen than poorly drained soils. The nitrogen lost from well drained soils is usually due, to leaching. The nitrogen in the soil, even soon after applying non-nitrate forms of fertilizer N, is mostly in the water soluble nitrate form. When more water falls onto a well-drained soil than the …

Sucker Control Chemicals For Use On Burley Tobacco, W. O. Atkinson, Jones H. Smiley, Allen Wallace

Agronomy Notes

Maleic hydrazide (MH) formulations containing 3 pounds per gallon of active ingredient can no longer be manufactured for sale in the United States. However, all 3-pound MH formulations that were manufactured before October, 1981 can be sold until the supply of that formulation is exhausted. MH formulations containing 1.5 or 2.25 pounds of active ingredient (Potassium salt of MH) can still be manufactured and sold in the U.S. for controlling suckers on tobacco.

Response Of Soybean Cultivars To Postemergence Herbicides, James R. Martin, W. W. Witt

Agronomy Notes

The acreage of soybeans treated with postemergence herbicides for broadleaf weed control has increased over the past few years. This trend has occurred because of inconsistent control of cocklebur (Xanthium pensylvanicum Wallr), giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.), jimsonweed (Datura stramonium L.), and morningglory (Ipomoea hederacea (L.) Jacq. and Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth) with soil applied herbicides.

Eastern Black Nightshade, L. G. Rodrigue, W. W. Witt, Charles H. Slack, J. R. Martin

Agronomy Notes

The nightshade species of North America consist of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.), American black nightshade (Solanum americanum Mill.), hairy nightshade (Solanum surrachoides Sendt.) and eastern black nightshade (Solanum ptycanthum Dun.). Eastern black nightshade is a problem weed in many soybean producing areas and is the predominant problem nightshade in Kentucky. In addition to field crops, the nightshades are also problem weeds in canning peas (Pisum sativum L.), field beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) and tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Previously, most nightshades in Kentucky have been referred to as black nightshade. It is now known that black …

Comparative Effectiveness Of Urea, Ammonium Nitrate, And Urea Ammonium Polyphosphate On Fescue Production, Lloyd W. Murdock

Agronomy Notes

In the past, nitrogen (N) fertilizers used on grass pastures in Kentucky have largely been ammoniated phosphates in mixed fertilizers and ammonium nitrate. Due to the economic advantage of producing solid urea as opposed to ammonium nitrate, availability of urea is becoming greater and, in some areas, is the only source of solid nitrogen. If urea is not incorporated into the soil immediately after application, some of the nitrogen may be lost as ammonia gas. The loss is called volatilization. The amount of loss depends on a number of conditions. High soil and air temperatures and a moist soil which …

Alfalfa, White Clover, And Red Clover Variety Trials, Roy E. Sigafus, Norman L. Taylor, Garry D. Lacefield, J. Kenneth Evans

Agronomy Notes

This note is a brief summary of results obtained in 1981 from one white clover, five alfalfa, and three red clover trials. Yields in the seeding year, and from the first full year of production thereafter, are not the best estimate of the full potential of most forage legumes. The third season stand and yield are a good measure of persistency with red clover and white clover. At times it may be the fourth or fifth season with alfalfa before stands begin to thin.

To supply information on the best varieties available there is a continuous monitoring of new varieties …

Temperature And Humidity Prediction In A Burley Curing Facility, Thomas C. Bridges, Linus R. Walton, Larry G. Wells, I. J. Ross

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Simulation Of Burley Tobacco Harvesting-Housing Systems, Ronald L. Bingner, Larry G. Wells, Thomas C. Bridges, George A. Duncan

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A computer model has been developed using systems analysis techniques to simulate the labor and equipment aspects of harvesting burley tobacco. By varying the parameters of the model the user can determine a harvesting and housing strategy based on labor and equipment availability.

Use Of Molybdenum In The Transplant Water For Burley Tobacco, J. L. Sims, Jones H. Smiley, M. E. Suchy, A. M. Wallace

Agronomy Notes

The need for adding molybdenum to tobacco arises because contents in Kentucky soils generally are on the "borderline" of sufficiency and because amounts of available molybdenum in soil are low when soil pH is low. Soil pH in tobacco fields at midseason often is 0.5 to 1.0 pH unit lower than prior to fertilization. primarily because of the high rates of commercial fertilizers commonly applied to tobacco. This acidity greatly lowers the availability of molybdenum to tobacco plants. That is why we recommend the use of molybdenum when soil pH before fertilization is 6.4 or below.

Correction And Prevention Of Soil Compaction, Lloyd W. Murdock

Agronomy Notes

Soil can be compacted by both natural and man made forces. The most common cause results from tillage practices. These man induced compacted layers are often called a traffic pan, disc pan, plow pan, wheel compaction, hard pan, etc. Some compaction occurs in most soils that are tilled. If compaction is Severe enough, it may reduce plant growth and yield. Soil compaction can be corrected by subsoiling and deep plowing but they are expensive methods. Soil compaction may not be a problem if one understands compaction, its effects, and how to prevent it.

Simulating The Water Requirements And Economic Feasibility Of Corn In The Midwest, Wendi L. Palmer, B. J. Barfield, M. E. Bitzer, C. T. Haan

KWRRI Research Reports

An evaluation of the economics of supplemental irrigation when using a surface water supply must be site specific in order to account for variations in soil moisture holding capacity, watershed area supplying the runoff, climatic conditions, and proposed irrigation management procedures.

With the use of farm specific simulation models to determine grain yields, availability of irrigation water, and economic expenditures involved in irrigation, an economic evaluation of supplemental irrigation can be performed, In the model presented in this report, the Duncan SIMAIZ model is used to predict grain yields using long-term daily weather information. SIMAIZ also determines irrigation water demand …

Corn Yields From Fertilizer Recommendations Made By Some Soil Testing Laboratories Serving Kentucky, Lloyd W. Murdock, William Hendrick

Agronomy Notes

One of the most economically important services available to Kentucky farmers is that of soil testing and fertilizer recommendations. Fertilizer purchases on the order of 150 million dollars per year are currently made by farmers in Kentucky. Until about 30 years ago there was no routine, rapid method for analyzing soils to determine fertilizer needs. Since then, as better methods were developed, soil testing laboratories have been set up for routine farmer use. For many years only the soil testing service provided through the University of Kentucky (UK) was readily available to farmers in Kentucky. Even though the University still …

A Cropping System For Intensive Grain Production On Sloping Land, Kenneth L. Wells, H. C. Vaught, Morris J. Bitzer, M. W. Russell

Agronomy Notes

From the beginnings of Kentucky Agriculture, soil erosion and related losses in productivity have been major problems for Kentucky farmers. Improved soil conservation practices during the past forty years have been especially significant in the recovery and progress of our agricultural industry. No-tillage methods for crop production, which were pioneered in Kentucky, have proven useful in controlling erosion and holding production at high levels. During recent years, the marketplace has strongly encouraged grain production, with the unfortunate effect that many Kentucky hillsides have been returned to grain production without sufficient erosion control measures. This report describes innovations in use of …

Analysis And Testing Of Powered Tillage Blades, Larry G. Wells, E. M. Smith, D. E. Hammett

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Fundamental design considerations for powered rotary tillage blades are presented and discussed. The relationship between blade angular velocity and the geometric dimensions of cutting edges is specified for tillage blades rotating counter to the direction of travel and assuming a typical forward speed for tillage.

Analyses showed that a powered blade rotated opposite to the direction of travel can be operated at relatively lower angular velocities than can one rotated in the direction of travel to achieve equivalent blade velocity and acceleration relative to the soil. Furthermore, a blade rotated opposite to the direction of travel requires relatively lower power …

Wind Drag On Burley Tobacco Plants, James H. Casada, Linus R. Walton, Larry G. Wells

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Drag coefficient and center of resistance to wind forces were determined for four varieties of burley tobacco at three stages of growth and using wind velocities ranging from about 3 to 17 m/s. Drag coefficients determined ranged from about 0.024 at the highest velocity to about 0.081 at the lowest velocity. Stage of growth and wind velocity had significant effects on drag coefficient. Variety did not have a significant effect on drag coefficient. Mean center of resistance varied from 42.3 percent of the distance from bottom leaf to top leaf at the early stage of growth to 71.2 percent at …

The Influence Of Harvesting Strategies And Economic Constraints On The Feasibility Of Farm Grain Drying And Storage Facilities, Otto J. Loewer Jr., Thomas C. Bridges, G. M. White, Douglas G. Overhults

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The economic return to on-the-farm grain drying and storage facilities is influenced by many factors including harvesting strategies, facility management, market conditions, energy considerations, and facility design. This study evaluates the influence of these factors on expected net return.

Economic Comparison Of Alternative Burley Tobacco Harvesting Practices By Computer, Thomas C. Bridges, Larry G. Wells, George A. Duncan, John N. Walker

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The computer model CATCH (Computer Analysis of Tobacco Cutting and Housing) was developed to provide the individual tobacco producer with management information concerning alternative methods of harvesting burley tobacco. CATCH utilizes specific producer in-puts to analyze 24 alternative burley production systems and presents up to four economic rankings containing costs, equipment and labor for each system. The economic rankings aid the producer in decision making with regard to his own operation.

Soybean Inoculant Quality, J. L. Sims, E. C. Lacefield, Lloyd W. Murdock

Agronomy Notes

Research studies have shown that from 40 to 80 percent of the nitrogen required for a soybean crop comes from nitrogen fixed in the nodules, depending on the degree of nodulation and the level of soil nitrogen. Hence, it is important that soybean plants be well-nodulated for most efficient soybean production.

Effect Of Lime On No-Tillage Corn Yields, Robert L. Blevins, Lloyd W. Murdock

Agronomy Notes

The rapidly growing popularity and adoption of no-tillage systems of corn production have required us to re-evaluate some of our long established soil fertility practices and recommendations. Recent work by researchers at Kentucky and adjacent states show that the soil surface becomes very acid after a few years of continuous no-tillage corn production. This rapid decrease in soil pH is primarily associated with surface application of nitrogen fertilizers. Most lime recommendations and related research information for row crop production are based on plow-down application. Therefore, the effectiveness of surface-applied and unincorporated lime under no-tillage systems becomes a question of concern. …

The Influence Of Harvest Rate And Drying Time On Grain Drying And Storage Facility Selection, Thomas C. Bridges, Otto J. Loewer Jr., Douglas G. Overhults

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Determination Of Strategy For Harvesting Burley Tobacco, Yasuhiko Miyake, Larry G. Wells, George A. Duncan, Jimmie Rankin

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The decision-making process associated with the scheduling of burley tobacco harvesting operations was formulated as a multi-stage decision process, and solved using a procedure called dynamic programming. The solution of a stochastic dynamic programming model provides a set of optimal decision rules, that is, a strategy. When certain user-specified parameters are provided, the decision model provides information concerning the optimal date to start harvesting, the optimal number of hours to harvest on each day, the optimal date to introduce hired labor, and the optimal number of workers which should be hired.

The solution of the dynamic programming model makes it …

Relationship Of Weed Control And Soil Ph To No-Tillage Corn Yields, J. J. Kells, C. E. Rieck, Robert L. Blevins, Charles H. Slack

Agronomy Notes

Atrazine and simazine are used for selective control of a broad spectrum of weeds in corn. Over 80% of the U.S. corn production is treated with one or the other of these two s-triazine herbicides. In Kentucky they are used annually on over 800,000 acres of corn, including over 200,000 acres of no-tillage corn. When added to the soil these compounds are ultimately degraded to non-phytotoxic compounds. The rate of degradation is dependent upon the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. Although atrazine and simazine are chemically similar, simazine is considered to degrade slightly slower than atrazine after …