Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Agronomy Notes, No. 35, Robert C. Buckner, Paul B. Burrus Jr.

Agronomy Notes

The following table gives the effect of clipping and fertilization treatments on clean seed yields of tall fescue. Seed yield figures are averages of four replications and five years' data.

Practices To Increase Grass Seed Yields Ky. 31 Fescue, Orchardgrass And Ky. Bluegrass, Robert C. Buckner, Paul B. Burrus Jr.

Agronomy Notes

Grass seed is a specialized crop in Kentucky. High per acre seed yields can be obtained by using the following suggestions that are made from research findings by the University of Kentucky Agronomy Department.

Different Soils Need Different Amounts Of Limestone, George D. Corder

Agronomy Notes

Two different soil types may show the same acidity levels by soil test but they may need different amounts of limestone to obtain the same reduction in soil acidity.

Nitrogen Loss From Surface Application, Harold F. Miller

Agronomy Notes

Research work has shown that considerable nitrogen can be lost from surface applied ammonia-containing fertilizers. The nitrogen is lost due to the formation of ammonia which escapes into the air. Soil and weather conditions encouraging this loss are high temperature, moist soils, high pH and source of nitrogen.

Preserve And Use Tobacco Stalks, George D. Corder

Agronomy Notes

When Kentucky's 1964 tobacco crop is stripped , there will be about 176,000 tons of stalks in and around stripping barns. There will be more than $2 million worth of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in them.

If these stalks are left outside the barn and exposed to winter rains, 61 percent of the nitrogen, 38 percent of the phosphorus, 83 percent of the potassium and 41 percent of the organic matter may be lost.

Use Of Phosphate Fertilizers And Bedding To Preserve Manures, George D. Corder

Agronomy Notes

Superphosphate fertilizers added to farm manures as they accumulate in barns, feed lots, and loafing areas will reduce the loss of nitrogen as gaseous ammonia.

Farm Manures, George D. Corder

Agronomy Notes

More than 16 million tons of farm manures valued at more than $47 million are produced on Kentucky farms each year.

Almost half of these manures accumulate in barns, feedlots, and loafing areas. A large part of this will accumulate in these areas between now and pasture time next spring. These manures must be removed from time to time and the cost of handling is unavoidable. Preserving their value and using them wisely on crops and soils that benefit from them will give a fair return on handling costs.

Agronomy Notes, No. 19, George D. Corder

Agronomy Notes

A Test Ban Treaty designed to stop nuclear explosions above ground was signed. World tension was eased. Fear of radioactive fallout was lessened. The Chinese have the atomic bomb. They did not sign the Test Ban Treaty. World tension is on the up-swing.

What has all this to do with agriculture in Kentucky?

Borax, Borates, And Other Boron-Carrying Compounds, Harold F. Miller

Agronomy Notes

Boron is available on the market in a number of different compounds. Since the amount of boron contained in each compound is different, the concentration will determine the rate required per acre. Frequently, all of these boron-containing compounds are erroneously referred to as borax (11.36 percent boron).

Organic Toxicity, Jones H. Smiley, Ira E. Massie

Agronomy Notes

In recent years there has been much discussion on the subject of organic matter toxicity and its relation to the severity of black root rot of tobacco. Organic matter toxicity is due to or at least related to toxins produced during organic matter decomposition.

Fertilizer-Insecticide Mixtures On Corn, R. L. Miller, George D. Corder

Agronomy Notes

Soil fertility and insects are major factors that affect corn yields. The proper kinds and amounts of fertilizers and insecticides properly placed will make corn production more economical on fields where either or both are needed.

Fertilizer-Insecticide Mixtures On Tobacco Plant Beds And Fields, George D. Corder, R. L. Miller

Agronomy Notes

Fertility and insect control programs have a major influence on tobacco production. The proper amounts and kinds of fertilizers and insecticides properly placed will make production more economical on beds and fields if either or both are needed.

Is a fertilizer-insecticide mix the best way to meet the fertility needs and t he insecticide needs on tobacco? The following questions and answers should help show how the decision was reached that this method is not recommended.

Spring And Summer Management Of Forage Crops, Warren C. Thompson

Agronomy Notes

The late summer and early fall drought affected forage crops throughout the state. What can be done this spring and summer about the situation?

Phosphorus And Potassium Elemental Or Oxide, Harold F. Miller, George D. Corder

Agronomy Notes

Soil tests for phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are reported on the elemental basis by all soil testing laboratories (state and county) in Kentucky.

Field Trials With Zinc On Corn, H. F. Miller, S. H. Phillips, C. E. Wyatt

Agronomy Notes

Zinc deficiency in corn has been found in isolated instances in Kentucky during the past few years. Usually the deficiency is found in fields having a high pH or in high-phosphate soils with somewhat lower pH values. At present zinc deficiency in Kentucky soils does not appear widespread enough to justify recommending its application except where known deficiencies exist.

A New Black Shank Resistant Hybrid, Jones H. Smiley, Ira E. Massie

Agronomy Notes

Seed of a new black shank resistant burley hybrid will be available to growers in 1964. This hybrid is especially for farmers who cannot rotate their tobacco land and . thus, are forced to set their crop in a black shank infested field. The hybrid is a cross between two black shank resistant varieties, MS L8 and Burley 37. The female parent , MS L8, carries black shank resistance from a wild relative of tobacco.

Changes In Soil Ph Caused By Heavy Nitrogen Fertilization, W. O. Atkinson

Agronomy Notes

Ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, urea and anhydrous ammonia leave acid residues, thus tending to make the soils more acid. The degree to which soil pH may be affected and the persistence of such changes for a silt loam soil is shown in the table below. The same amounts of phosphorus and potash were applied to all plots, and the different amounts of nitrogen were supplied from ammonium nitrate. Burley tobacco was the crop grown and the data are for 1963, which was the second consecutive year for the fertilizer treatments. (These were experimental plots and the high treatments …

Calcium Deficiency Symptoms In Burley Tobacco, Jones H. Smiley, Ira E. Massie, George Everette

Agronomy Notes

Calcium is an element required by all higher plants in relatively large quantities. It appears to be closely related to the formation of buds and flowers.

Calcium is usually available in sufficient quantities in Kentucky soils to produce a normal crop of tobacco. However, when certain varieties of burley tobacco commence to bloom and produce suckers, the tips of the calyx lobes of the flowers may turn brown and die and the edges of the small leaves of the suckers may be necrotic, resulting in irregularly shaped sucker leaves. In severe cases the apical bud may be killed. These calcium …

Tobacco Stalk Production, Value And Use, George D. Corder, Harold F. Miller

Agronomy Notes

When Kentucky farmers finish stripping the 1963 tobacco crop they will have 176,000 tons of tobacco stalks worth $2 million on their farms.

These stalks will contain 9.8 million pounds of nitrogen, 932,000 pounds of phosphorus (2 million pounds of P₂O₅) and 13 million pounds of potassium (15.6 million pounds of K₂O). Equal amounts of these plant nutrients bought in commercial fertilizers in 1963 would have cost more than $2 million.

Plant Beds, Jones H. Smiley, Ira E. Massie

Agronomy Notes

Due to the occurrence of blue mold and manganese toxicity in some of the plant beds this last spring, it is probably advisable for all growers to select a new site for the 1964 crop.

Blue mold is a fungus disease which sometimes causes severe damage to tobacco seedings just prior to setting time. The fungus will produce heavy-walled spores on the dying or dead leaves. These spores are capable of remaining in the soil at least a year and attacking the next crop of plants if the same site is used again for tobacco plants .

Fall Treatment Of Tobacco Beds With Methyl Bromide, Ira E. Massie, George Everette, Jones H. Smiley

Agronomy Notes

Treating tobacco beds with methyl bromide for the purpose of killing weed seed has become very popular in recent years. The gas is effective except on the seed of white clover and when the soil temperature is below 50° F.

Agronomy Notes, No. 6, Harold F. Miller, George D. Corder

Agronomy Notes

This fall is an ideal time to apply needed agricultural limestone. Spreading equipment can get over the dry ground with less soil compaction, and limestone applied now can correct soil acidity during the winter months.

Barley - Oat Varieties, 1963, S. H. Phillips

Agronomy Notes

Selection of barley and oat varieties is important to growers of these small grains. Tests are conducted across Kentucky by the University of Kentucky Agronomy Department to determine yield, winter hardiness, disease resistance, standability, and other characteristics important to efficient production. Planting dates are more important for these two crops than for wheat and rye because of winter freeze damage. The best planting dates for barley and oats run from September 1 to September 20. Later plantings are made in Kentucky but are subject to more damage from cold weather. Increased planting rates in barley tend to improve yield in …

Agronomy Notes, No. 1, S. H. Phillips, Harold F. Miller, Verne C. Finkner

Agronomy Notes

This is the first issue of "Agronomy Notes." The Agronomy Department, University of Kentucky, expects to use this publication to inform county agents, other agricultural workers, and leaders on current progress in soils & crops work. The Kentucky Experiment Station will be an important source of information. Information may be drawn from other research. Field trials and observations that show useful information may be reported. The emphasis will be on short timely topics.

Determine Liming Needs On Tobacco Land This Fall, Jones H. Smiley, Harold F. Miller

Agronomy Notes

There have been far too many reports of manganese toxicity in tobacco this season for a condition which is so easily corrected.

Manganese is one of the minor elements necessary for plant growth, but it is needed in very small amounts. When large amounts are taken up by a tobacco plant, light green or yellowish areas appear between the larger veins of the leaf. In severe cases the plant may be stunted or even die.