II I1 4 0 ''p 1. j 'u ,fi kr,_,Fr rsr rr moiP A~UUTi~ i EiCI '/f II .4 ~ it w F2 I S S U E DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS Endophyte Has Little influence on Fescue Stand Establishment The Catawba Worm: Bad for Catalpa Trees But Good for Fishing Multiple Applications of New Fungicide Needed to Control White Mold in Peanuts;- Conservation Tillage Improves Soil Moisture Using Bacteria to Control Peanut and Tomato Pests Portable Timber Bridges Offer New Options for Stream Crossings Top-pruning Increases Survival of Pine Seedlings How Effective Is Export Promotion of U.S. Cotton? 1 Avermectin-based Baits Control Cockroaches 1 Feed Value of Broiler Litter for Stocker Cattle 1 Nutrient Losses in Runoff from Land-Applied Broiler Litter 1 Early Planting May Help Prevent Outbreaks of Peanut Pests 1 Tree Shelters: an Effective, Low-Cost Way to Establish Street Trees 1 Quality Medical Care for Children Could Become Rare in Rural Alabama 1 ON THE COVER: R. Dennis Rouse, former AAES director, stands in front of the new Auburn University building that bears his name. UPCOMING Jumn 16 Jum 29 Junem 22 July 18 July 14 July 21 August 17 August 25 September 1 September 20 EVENTS Vegetable Field Day, Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville Horticulture Field Day, E.V. Smith Research Center, Shorter Vocational Agriculture Teacher-Student Crop Production, Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville Fruit and Vegetable Field Day, Chilton Area Horticulture Substation, Clantol Fruit and Vegetable Field Day, North Alabama Horticulture Substation, Cullm Cotton Field Day, Tennessee Valley Substation, Belle Mina Cotton Tour, E.V. Smith Research Center, Shorter All Commodity Field Day, Wiregrass Substation, Headland Wildlife Field Day, Piedmont Substation, Camp Hill Cotton Field Day, Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope 3 This column is often devoted to the accomplishments of the Alabama Agricul- 4 tural Experiment Station, but this time I'd like to devote it to an individual. This 6 ture and the lives of all Alabamians. 7 On April 29, the R. Dennis Rouse Life 8 Sciences Building was dedicated on the Auburn University campus. It is a long- awaited, badly needed facility that allows 10 us to more efficiently meet the research and 11 teaching challenges facing us in the broad area of molecular biology. 12 Only a handful of Auburn faculty have 13 their name on a building on campus, and 14 virtually none have lived to see the dedica- tion. His participation in the dedication of 15 the Rouse Life Sciences Center truly quali- fies Dr. Rouse to be among a select few 16 Auburn living legends. Dr. Rouse served as dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the Agricul- tural Experiment Station from 1972-1980. Among his many, many accomplishments - was establishing the E.V. Smith Research Center in Shorter as a viable alternative to on-campus research. Dr. Rouse also had a outstanding career as a teacher and researcher in agronomy and soils. He was instrumental in setting up Auburn's Soil Testing Lab. n On a more personal side, following in an his footsteps as director, I have some unique insights into the difficulty of some of his accomplishment. His dedication and dogged persistence in doing things the right way have made the road I travel as director a little less difficult. Thank you! Lowell T. Frobish Director S u m m e r 1 9 9 4 V olum e 41 N u m b e r 2 A quarterly report of research published by the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University. LOWELLT. FROBISH ............ Director DAVID H. TEEM ..................... Associate Director RUSSELL B. MUNTIFERING. Associate Director PAT GREEN ............................. Assistant Director ROY ROBERSON .................... Assistant Director KATIE SMITH.......................... Associate Editor ROBYN HEARN ...................... Associate Editor TERESA RODRIGUEZ............ Art Designer Editorial Committee: Lowell T. Frobish; D.J. Eakes, Assistant Professor of Horticulture; D.J. Collins, As- sociate ProfessorofPlantPathology; R.J. Lien, Assis- tant Professor of Poultry Science; L.A. Shanley, As- sistant Professor of Consumer Affairs; C.W. Wood, Assistant Professor of Agronomy and Soils; H.W. Kinnucan, Associate Professor of Agricultural Eco- nomics and Rural Sociology; R.A. Tufts, Associate Professorof Forestry; W.J. Moar,AssistantProfessor of Entomology; J.L. Sartin, Associate Professor of Animal Health Research; and Roy Roberson. EDITOR'S NOTE. Mention of trade names does not indicate endorsement by the Alabama Agricul- tural Experiment Station or Auburn University of one brand over another. Any use of pesticide rates in excess of labeled amounts in research reported does not constitute recommendation of such rate. Such use is simply part of the scientific investiga- tion necessary to evaluate various materials. No chemical should be used at rates above those per- mitted by the label. Information contained herein is available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, or national origin. N THIS ~~~C -r~ mrr ~ e ~ ~ : - rlr rr ~rrrrr.--r ~~rr- ~ ~I E. van Santen, C.C. Mitchell, D.M. Ball, J.T. Eason, and R.C. Rawls ENDOPHYTE HAS LITTLE INFLUENC ON FESCUE STAND ESTABLISHME Producers persistently report poor establishment of endophyte-free tall fescue. Because Alabama soils often are acidic and infertile, some pro- ducers and researchers expected that soil fertility might play a role in the reported endophyte-free fescue estab- lishment problem. However, an AAES study has shown that both endophyte- infected and endophyte-free fescue are quite tolerant of adverse soil fertility conditions during establishment. The study, conducted at the Sand Mountain and Upper Coastal Plain sub- stations, investigated soil fertility fac- tors influencing stand establishment of endophyte-infected and endophyte-free fescue. These included pH, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and nitrogen (N). The study was conducted on long-term rotation and fertility study plots at the two substations. Treatments consisted of residual soil P, K, and magnesium (Mg) concentrations ranging from very low to high. Soil pH variables also were available in treatments that had never been limed. Nitrogen fertilization rates s from zero to 200 pounds per acre in split applications also were included as treat- ments on fescue. Plant material consisted of three pairs of endophyte-infected and endophyte-free experimental populations. To exclude all extraneous effects on the outcome of the trial, seed for the three pairs was produced at a common location. The seed was geneti- cally identical, and seeding rates were ad- justed for differences in germination. All entries were seeded into a well prepared seedbed in October 1992. Plots were har- vested at 12-inch canopy height. Stand rat- ings were taken one year after establish- ment. Most fertility treatments resulted in ex- cellent stands (greater than 90%) for all entries at both locations. The average stand Stand percentage 100 80 60 40 20 0 4.5 7.0 Effect of soil pH on stand percentage of orchardgrass and tall fescue at the two-year rotation ite at the Sand Mountain Substation one year after seeding. difference between endophyte-infected and endophyte-free entries was only 1%. Tall fescue is an amazing forage species in its response to residual soil fertility, as was demonstrated by comparing it to an orchardgrass check which was included in one study site (see figure). Of all the long- term fertility treatments, only the no lime and the control plot, which had no fertilizer or lime applied to it for more than 60 years, had reduced stands of tall fescue. Stand percentages for all other treatments were above 90%. Again, there was little differ- ence between Ky-31 endophyte-infected and Ky-31 endophyte-free. In contrast, nine of 17 fertility treatments resulted in less than 80% stand for orchardgrass. Without a doubt, many producers have had more difficulty establishing stands of endophyte-free fescue than they are accus- tomed to having with endophyte-infected fescue. Endophyte-free fescue is less toler- ant to some stresses than endophyte-in- fected fescue, but results from the first year of these studies suggest that soil fertility alone is not responsible for any differences in establishment success. However, this does not rule out the possibility that other stress factors, such as defoliation, insects, or diseases, may interact with fertility in certain situations. van Santen and Mitchell are Associate Profes- sors, and Ball is a Professor of Agronomy and Soils. Eason is Superintendent of the Sand Moun- tain Substation. Rawls is Superintendent of the Upper Coastal Plain Substation. Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 Soil pH 3 L.L. Hyche T -It-R T- LAAWA" 1Vo"NI T IT FOR he "C atassba ssorm" feeds exCinsi Clx on the lea\ es oft Catailpa trees anid often Comipletely strips the plants of foliage. mking the cater pillar an uniwef- coime pest to the landscape-nitnded homieowsnet. H-owsescir, to lise-bait f ishinie entthusiasts, a catalpa tree decorated w ith these caterpillars is highly desirable, anid tie term iic'atassha worim n has a special meanine: eood l isfi bait. Angeris reeulhitly has e yuestions con- ernitno- the cat erpill ar's deselIopment and habits. Resnu ts of an AA ES r esearceh pro((eet plrs ile this often-teijitsteif inform iiitiin. T he catawsha wsormii is one of mans insects studied ini a progr am to identify. eatalogue. and recor d habits of eonion tree insects in Alahana. T-he cater pillar is o)1fficially namied the catalpa sphinix (Crtme ( '0111( oll~i)(1. C'atassha is the Chferokee name tor the eat- alpa tree, sshich is possibly the origin of the name "'Catawsha wsormi." T he C atalpa sphinx ox erssintet s as a pupa in the soil. The pupa (Figure I) is bate. reddish hrossn, and 30- 35 mitllimeters lotie ( IAT1]OR'S N01 I: one inch is 25.40 )m. Aftct catafpa tiees des efop IcaCs in tfie spr ing, pupae work their wsay to the soif surf ace avid adults emerge. The adult (Fit- ute 2) is a tiibiit mioth. 30-35 mmn long. with gr ay spintule-.shaped body and mott led giray-btrown in irgs. Moths generally fly at dusk and at night and are not often seen. Adult I entales lay eggs in moutnded miasses (Figutre 3) on the utidersitrf ace of leas es. The nutinbet of eggs per mass may range to 1 ,000, but tmost misses cotntatin 300800.11 Feegs Ihitch in a wseek to 101 dax s. Ness I hatched Cateipillats (i'gute 4) ate sshitish to pale yel loss anid hasve a black spine at the teat. As caterpillatrs gloss, coloration changes: heads ate black, anid bodies are pale yelloss to greenish-yelloss wsith black mat kinigs. Dull-glossn cater pillars (Figure 5)ate 70- 75 1111 11 forte and svarioiusls matrked ssith a solid black band or a toss of' black spots bordered by black lines dossn the back. l)ut atton of' the catetrpillat staee sat ies but is eenetrallIy about three sseeks. FtullI g rowt fatsvac dirop ftom leasves. etitet the soil, and pupate. Ness mioths emerge ini about twso wseeks. The letigth of the sshole life cycle is about six sseeks. Ini Alabama. three or lout hiroods I i occur durine at seasoni, and cater pillat s ma> be pr esent until leaf dtop iii the faIL Genetrationis of ten ov~erlap. and (liftferent desvelopmental stages atid caterpillatrs of various si/es ita be ptresenit at the same timte. L arv ae Ftrom the last btoodl in the fall buit Os into the so/il atid pupate: adult moths emerg=e thle 1 I llosig spring. Caterpillars miay be common for one to thre cc eats, then scatrcc for a less seats. Pat asites and predator s often ate tespon- sible itt conritillitg populatious. Onie con- moni parasite is a small ssasp that deposits eggs into the cater pillatr. Eggs hatch, arid wasp larsvac feed inside the wsormii. Wheni parasite lars ac are grossni. they emierge amid sp/itt sshlte silketi cocoonis ont the outside iot the cate'p il a Ir ('Figurte 6). Paras it ized ssortiis do rnot reach adulthood. Uinfortunately s there ts tno effect ise method (if el imintat itg the parasites ssithl/ut harintg the caterpillars. IFor mote inrif ormlationt, contact the Of' lice itf Research hl'o/rtuati(/t at ( 205) 844- 4877 for a copy o/f A,\l1 S I .aflet 1(06, Tho Culpu .Sphiut_ Figure 1. Pupa of the catalpa sphinx (top). Figure 2. Catalpa sphinx adult. Figure 3. Typical egg mass on the underside of catalpa leaf. This mass contained about 650 eggs. Figure 4. Newly hatched larvae. Figures5. Full-grown "catawbaworms." Note color variation. Figure 6. Wasp parasite cocoons on the body of a dying caterpillar. /N i4 11/uobiol/to 1 it ,riutit, ! L5//ci /cnl .u11io/t A.K. Hagan, K.L. Bowen, and J.R. Weeks MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS OF i FUNGICIDE NEEDED TO CONTROL WHITE MOLD IN PEANUTS Wbhte imold, the most destruc- ixe dlis'ease of Alabama's pea- nut crop. cuts annual y ields state- wxide bx tearly 11 ( . and sex ere outbreaks can ireduce y ields by 407 ori more. Folicui 3.6F? cuitti us .S I lctuot roI/'tt the cetusf fnlues (it xxhite mold. AAES studies deter- Mined the ncimbei of applications needed fii efftectixve disease controf xxillh this ex- per imnitalu fugicide. 1 'rials xx rc conducted in I1992 and 1993 onl peit n ts in iriigated anl iionirri eated fields wxith a htistoiy of xxhite mold damage. IFui unner peanuts xxere planted in late Apil. FullI canopy sprays of 'oflicur and Moncut~l xxetc applied accoiding to Manufacturci guidelines at I5 gaiflons total x ofume per acre. Induceo? spiay adjux ant at txxo qfuarts per I (((gallons was added to Foliccirspi ays. Agri dc \ spry acdjcixant xxas tank-itixed at one cfciart pci 10t0 gallons xxith Moncut. White mild hit counts (one hit ' the i ncreased ifteral xfpendin on (-l- Cfport fpro-motio~n. H-oxxCxeC, fuirther research ix needed~t to dtfetC n ilIwAhet he elxpor0lt pro moItion il- enCralis Ixcost Cf ctix C. For example, no research exixtx on ti-I cI- nomIFic impart of ti-I domesxtic Cotton fpro- mNo-tional p~rogramt. StiffI. ti-I Cxtim~ated 56.(7( i7Cnef it per~ clxt I atiol fl-I Colttonl xsuCCxtx Cefport fpromotionI max he a cosx-effeivex fpoliCN inxtrunICt fl-I inCreaxinC ti-I Com- fptitixeness olt U.S. a riClthraf comlmd-IlI ties il- ovx rseas lflarkctx. KinnulCan is an \xxF..FiCl Prll'f-Ilo ofF \'i-F l l~~ icIFInFic.. SolomonIFF is anF AssistaFIt Pill I'cINIF iF ti-I Tuxkce~ I nivl Citx SCil~ lit [usi- nessN. ,Ffl tDuffx Is anF AssocUiC ProfFsxFoI of A~i.. uFFra EIiionomFFlics. A Iuhunu A ti'I'i(I!ltlI,(II L xj~eriitCiti .S(hlioo A.G. Appel, E.P. Benson, and J.M. Ellenberger AVERMECTIN-BASED BAITS CONTROL COCKROACHES Controlling cockroaches is a constant challenge in the Southeast, but a class of pesticides used on livestock is providing a new control option. AAES re- search shows that the effectiveness of these pesticides, known as Avermectins, may depend on the way they are formulated and applied. Avermectins are effective against many insects and other invertebrates but pose no human health threat at recommended rates. Avermectins have been available since 1981 for use against cattle parasites and have recently been approved for cockroach con- trol in dwellings, commercial kitchens, and hospitals. Cockroaches must consume Avermectin for the insecticide to take effect. Avermectins are relatively slow-acting and nonrepellent, and there is no apparent cross- resistance between them and any of the conventional insecticides. These are ideal qualities for an insecticidal bait. AAES researchers have evaluated sev- eral professional-use and consumer Avermectin bait formulations in laboratory and field experiments with German cock- roaches, Blattella germanica (L.). In laboratory tests, groups of cockroaches were confined in one-quartj ars with a piece of dry dog food, water, and a sample of bait. Several forms 100 of Avermectin were used: 80 powders, gels, aerosol sprays, 60 and a dry formulation used in 20 bait stations. - 0 0 The dry, bait-station for- -20 - [ mulation was the most toxic, L -40 E followed by the powder (see -60 E table). Moist aerosol and gel -80 - formulations, however, ap- -100 - peared to be the least toxic. Moist formulations dry out rapidly after application Percent redu and form hard, smooth de- A negative p C erence in cockroaches, researchers took dried deposits of the aerosol and gel baits and ground them to a fine powder P the same consistency as the pow- F dered formulation. Toxicity of the ground baits was determined as before, and ground baits were 90% more toxic than nonground baits. These results suggest that hard deposits of the dried-out gels and sprays may be more difficult for cock- roaches to feed on. Field performance of Avermectin baits was evaluated in cockroach-infested apart- ments. Apartments were treated with label rates of aerosol, gel, or powder formula- tions or with 12 bait stations. The average percent reduction of German cockroaches trapped in each group of apartments is shown in the figure. Aerosols and gels were applied and smeared into thin deposits. Applied in this way, spray-applied Avermectin was the most effective of the treatments in field tests. Applying the moist baits in thin de- posits that cracked as they dried apparently made them more effective than they were in the laboratory tests. Cracks in the deposits allow cockroaches to grip the bait with their mouthparts while they eat. Weeks after treatment action of cockroaches four, eight, and 12 weeks aft ercent reduction means that insect populations The same overall amount of powder was applied to each of two groups of apart- ments. But the powder was applied at 12 sites in each apartment of one group, and it was applied at 50 locations in the other group. Powder applied at 50 locations worked faster and performed better than when applied at 12 locations. However, powder was completely consumed within the first four weeks, which accounts for the relatively poor performance of these treat- ments thereafter. Despite their performance in the labora- tory, bait stations performed poorly in the field, not reaching their maximum effect until 12 weeks. All of the bait had been consumed from the bait stations by 12 weeks. Cockroach numbers increased in nontreated control apartments throughout the trials. Population increases are shown as negative percent reductions in the figure. Based on these findings, professional- use Avermectin bait formu- lations can be effective in controlling German cock- roaches, but effectiveness will vary among formula- tions, and care must be taken to properly apply and re- new the bait in many loca-. tions. Appel is an Associate Pro- fessor of Entomology; Benson 1 2 is a former Associate Professor of Entomology and now an em- ployee of DowElanco; and ter treatment. Ellenberger is a Research Tech- increased. nician in Entomology. Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station TOXICITY OF AVERMECTIN BAITS TO GERMAN COCKROACHES IN CONTINUOUS EXPOSURE TESTS Treatment No. tested Days until 50% were killed Aerosol ........... 60 36.5 Gel ................. 60 41.2 Powder ........... 60 2.8 3ait station ..... 60 1.4 Control ............ 80 123.6 ImP 1l ~rprmprtln 11 T.A. McCaskey, S.N. Britt, B.G. Ruffin, J.T. Eason, and R.C. Strickland IFFFD VAU TE OF BOILER LITTER FOR CSTOCKER CATTLE a c h v e a r , A la b a m a ' s p itU ltr > in d li Ntr y E roduttceN diht INN 0 lillion~ tiins of hbi ler litter thle beddilic. feed. teathersN. andI xwaste mlaterils thlat citllect on~ tihe f loitrs otllicken hiouseN. llIitrpr diN- P I ill thlis h} 'priduet Iises a thrleat tio thle eninmiuiinit, bill NN lh Priter Itaidling. lit- ltr Call be a N alutable re',Ou ce. Broiilei litter hax N altie as a letrtill/el bcaUSC it is a LcOOd Niource itt itllilell. poitaNsiumli. adi phlisPhoiI tI, but an AAES lptiject NllitNrd it is Cvn mo Il(iCNaluable wNhen uised aN a tred tir cattle. AIlbUl Il scienitsN ill cooiperatiotn wxith thle "I CililC Nee Val ley .\othoritN. found1 thlat beet pro- ducerN call uINC littei in tiocker cattle dietN, dr aiaticall', cuttinoc t'eed eiosts xxhile mlain- taintilg acceptable NN eig'ht gain and teed ut iizationt. I ittrl iN a 200di~ siIurce ilt elude Pliteil. enrrgx, and in ieiralN. especially tior oNver- xx ilteritig broiiod CoNNs Nll s11 tociker CaINveN. Because Cattle haN e a NPeCial ized dli2CetiN C NN Nteml thley are able tit digest Nuch by- lriiduet feeds thlat ithei aillaN noilit. I IiINNCNci. liot all briler littei is Noitable for [INC ax feet. 01n1N litter that ciontains CNNs thanl 2ti8 ashl anld 11101-C thlal 18'/ crude Proitein wiNithlesCN thlani ?5( itt that pro- ten ini thle llillitbC or bounld till1i1 shoiuld be usred aN a teed ilc1-ediCilt. T t111i heFd aC01hrielitter. ticker cattle wcrc ft e ithler a Conl N eiitiitnal diet ectnltiihilcorini. sotNbeanl Sot hcani miial. 44...... ( r ri n .. .. . .. .. . .. . t r i e lL' i t e ...... .... tN 1 1 2 ,iI. .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . \It] i l,ii ' i...... ....... -tlli I l0.11 128 ii 0ii 1/ toil 1.00i 0.1 999 11.N I1) TilI I 'Pt 11111tI o" t) ti rin iii I 12-Di t Sit ill C outciiitiinil (Co11 I 111,21 In tal lb i h 1 .) .... Dta tt1iiI "iht lbh.)... G 22 (ain) h l. _ ......... I .il . t in .... ... .... ... ..l 784 338 22.91 84 4.1 f A Iluama A i-~ioiuliiurl Lxypcr imcni .S';oi, till- of corn and broi ler litter (Table 1 ). 1h hdietN NNI lr Ornin- fated to prox idc apprim ately the sarte dillOi of llutrientN. 13O\ tec is r itutinlyl addeId to Ciiin:llitter dicts to Iltv cnett bloat. anld it NN as included in the coi- v entiOnal diet as NN ell. Tile pOi- try litter was deep-stacked in a pole barn. cOm ci d witoh poly- Setho lene Nheeti u.and stored 28i days betor usCeI. ICts prox iled 17%crutde prilteinl oi a dry mat- ter basiN and 70(4 total digestible nutrients. 'IlirtN-si\ Crossbred heifes, iitiall Nxetghi nc 548 pounds. NN eie pui ha'sed. N aceinated. dew\ormed, and implanted. Tlii e grollps w\ere led the cofnventional diet atnd three NN1- ei d the Corn:litter diet. Cattle NCrC hioused inien in din opeii-sided bain iiNith a COilCiete tloor, and m~anuriC NNaN mlchanically scraped trin1 the bairn twNicC dalyN . Wtater \\ as~ a\ ailable at all timCN dur- inya the I 12 -day trial, biut the cattle wNcrc not ted an', hay. Consumilpttiln of the conv entioinal and In-,rcdiart Comcntiomtl Corn:l.itrcr eorn:litter diets was sinmilar: 22. I anld 22.9 pou nds e PCIt daN tCpecti NCIN (TIable 2). Hfeltlconuned teed at 2.'. i 01 odt w~cight. ANverage dail Ix ain wxas hig her tiel heifr f i ed the convenltional diet: 2.53 poo11iid per day. comnpared to 2.12. Thus. the tced:_aiil iatio lot the convnCitionlal diet NwaN 8.7: esI.:1 \CiOlOt I othe expciinien- tal diet. Reseairchers estimlated teed cots~ at 7.6 cents iler pounid for the COON entional diet and 4.2 cents per pound tin the Corn:litter diet. The cost liir cachl pound g~ained by the cattlc wxas higher for the COMN eitional diet. 66 cents pci pond. than tot thle COln:iittei dict. 46 cents~ PCI pouind. I hcsc l iighiICN indicate that a betf pro- ducci could pty oP to 6.1 centN a pound. or- S123 per toil. for the cot i:litter diet, and prodnctjitln costs NN OUld be sinitlar to thlose inceurred in leedlingI the COiix entionl diet. But as the cost o1l the corn l1itter diet in- creases aboN e the ',123 per toll, the eco- noimlic adN altac itt teeding litter di'sap- PearN., becaIuS it beCCOnleN moure expelniNC than thle COON entionial diet. T he econiomlic adN ailace of feedille br oiler litter beconmes appar ent whe ie I stock Proiducers ale able tot bu' it at loxx cot' and blend thleir own 50:50 diets. T he ditlelcr ecelC hem~ Cell the bleak-c n cos At ofl 81 23 Pe r tonIl alld til hcosit req iiredI to pirepaire the Coril:liltidiet ill-hous~e represents thle protfit ot teed inc litter. HoNwevNer. pi Oducel- muslit mlake Nute theN bux littei toot11 a rliable 'ilhilCe1 ti) hiliC itNtlt tititOilal ual- ity 01' thle p(oltry bxproduct. A ilaliirproblenii that pirCN ltN conllie clali/atlol ott pelleted litter feeds anld simi- lar ProiductN is thle c\cCsiv NCmalrket price demnided 1(or Nuheeds. Most ale ill C- cess 01' the S8123 per toll bieak-cc cN os Clt. NItCjaskeN iN a1 Pt iettei. Bit iii a~. Researchi Associlate. and Rufittn is a1 Protes,oi ot Aima~l andi Dairy SKieneCN, I~~ .isoiI Sopeintendet of ithe Sandt Moutain Siih,Liitiln andu Si klaud is Profeei \l~inaic itt the ITVA llioichtn~il Re- se~urh DiIepar title. B.M. Hall, C.W. Wood, K.H. Yoo, K.S. Yoon, and D.P Delaney NUTRIENT LOSSES IN JT if) T- T- P9(I T -1 Jmrrr p M u c h o f t t h e 1 5o i l l i o n t o n s io t puull I littei piroduced aitluilN ini \labaia is applied to) cirop and pastuice land as a fertilizer. While litter is a goild Soulrce itt inutricints for soime ci O1ls. it can pollute Suirlace 'A atei . An AAI S Study indicates Illis pi obleul can be coil- trolled ili caireful atteintion is paid 1t1 appl ic.atiln rates. P'oulti x litter conitaiins nitrogein (N). phlosphorus ( P). and other eleittents that cain inhaince Crop ci 0wthl. If these nuti- eints run ott o1f acicultural laud into Suiiface xx atiMs. thex cain iiltensitxv the gox t I of aquatic 'A eds, causi ii' eutrophication. [:lt (phicatioll occut, 'Ahen excessix e wAeed 1c1rowAtl depletes o\\ cen in the 'Aatei . p)ossiblx causinlg f ish kills. The AI'S Stud', wAas initiatcd to deicrmine optimal agronloimic rates ol litter ixlth i expct to 'Aatei qual iN Researl 'Aas ciiiduicted at the 1Ten- nessee Valley Substation in Belle M'iila duin 1 99 1-1 993 li0 Study nu~trieint losses iin runoft w Aater From corn/rye croppiing systems. Tireatumeints of 1lo1i toils oll broilerlitterperacre(131 4. eight tons ol bioiler litter peiacre (13 Stot Ocoiiiinr- cial feirtilizer (F') at thle recoillilded Soil test irate 'Aere applied eachl sp1inig to plots onl a 4( ( slope. C'omimercial leitil- iier applicatioins inleluded 40(0 pounds pler acre of aitlilit nlitrate and 100( pouinds pCr acic iii tiple Superpllos- phlate. R unolt saimples wx re collected xx ilh I times attet eacll iunot pi)oclucile 1 rainftall, and ruil oxlu1me 'Aas nui- tored 1 ligure I). Samples 'A re ala- IN /cd loinrg anic N. nitr ate, ailniloniuml. dissols ed P. aind Sedimlent P. Thle II 8rate resuilted inl morei N. P. and n itiales ri tilig oft thle Si I 1igure 2). Phospholrus losses also 'Acrc ill In- cilced by littei applications. Both dix- Sitlxed and sedimuent P losses xxr erecatct uiidei BL1 8 aS compared to Fertilizer. D~issolx ed P is iillnlecliatclx axvailable to1 aquatic plants. The concentriation of nutrients in sui- lace wxater al s 5an imiportant factoinfjuli ". K , " ' m Lb./a 15 10 13 N0 3 QI NH 4 Q3 Organic N D Dissolved P D Sediment P F BL4 BL8 F BL14 BL8 Figure 2. N and P losses in runoff from corn/rye cropping system. eilcinliz eiili lphicatiOill. C'oncentratioins of, inorganic N in runol I cxcccdinr 5.3 pat lper millioin Ippiii can support grow~th and r eproduction of algae. '['his concentirationl xxas ececdcd by all Itieal1inents inldc of-field irunoff losscs, and xxas as high as 68b Pp1m under the BLS l8 Ii etnien1t. P~hisphioius is IN pically pieseilt ini such Small aumounts in lakes that con- ,entrations betxxeen 01.1 02 and 0.0)9 ppml are considered xxithin a citical r ancc 9necessary f or algcal _irowxlh. All Ii eat- rolentS Ceccded this r ange throhout k he Studly. indicatiiig that all treatmnts na\ e /)OIio~ o! r dcciradation of sur- l ace 'Aaters via losses of P. HiowevCer. i pacts of ruiiot f losses ol P aic usual ix )hserx ced inl reCcix11 incxxaterst. SUCh lax cier and lakes. rathei than at the cdc ol contr-ibuting ficldls. Further rcseaich w xill be required to determine the impact t edce-ot hield N and P) losses on dowx i ircainl xx atel qdialit\ dcci adation. Thlese Ii udi ii c indicate that applica- ions of' broiler liter may i'esult in Sic- nificant coiltr-ibitioux of N and P to Sudirlace xxaters. Bcause Pis considered theci itical factorin eutrophication. con- tiollingo losses oft ll-tonl agricultur al landS to surlIace 'AtClcis1 01' utimlist importance. Research su gecstS that lit- ter Should be anal N id pirioi to applica- tion so rates prov ide oilyN thc prolper amounts of N and P~ incded lorn crop pi oduct ion. Because losses of N and P Irons 13!l w ere n1o crealci than lei tili/ei in this Stud',, and con n ields did lot llI IeianlouctreatmentS. tourtonlshbroilei Ii ie per acre may be an optimal rate tor liiiei application to corin. Hall is a Reseachl Associatc and W\ood is ,111 Alumnii Associate IProfessor ot Agronomiy anld Soils. 'too is an Assilate Piotessor andi~ Yoon is ai Griaduate Reseaichl Assistant in -'ei iculini al I i cri n ii. lDelanex is an) \la- hantC'oopciatixe\cilnsioni 'eixice Resou-c (con seraioil As socit ~ie. Ala/ibaima i-riculiwanl E~x/)erinci Statioll err.,..,? - F a S.D. Stewart. T.P. Mack. K.L. Bower. J.W. Kloepper. a J.H. Edwards EARLY PLANTING MAY HELP PREVENT OUTBREAKS OF PEANUT PESTS L sscr cortnstalk octs (,13 and at latoxi;1c t ng1i are imiportant pca Hil pests ini the Southeast. I'eeding (Limia C from I C 13' inicreases the chances ol I tnc~il inifectioni. hut it can he minimized wxith insecticides. Hloxx cer. there is in- creasing pr1essuire to reduce pesticide usc. Conisequenitly, /AIS rescarchiers are look- ingc at pesticide-free ways. to mnanage horeirs and funci. At latO~xigenic fuinci often contaminate peannt kcrnels wi th highly carcinogenic SUhslaiiceS called aflloxinS. wxhich can cause lix ci cancer wh len eaten in suil icient amounts. World hcalth of ficials recently dcri ased tolcirances I or atlatoxin contai nto in pat se to [I\ Vii ts P' i lli n ,.i ( )nthreaks of 1,C(3s and alla- J toxicnic I unczi tx picallIx occ nr-r . dnuri n'- hot. dry - wethCi hecanSe they are adapted to these Condi- tions, whlile most of tiei r natural Figure 1. Pegs and pod encillics are not. aflatoxigenic fungus, ' contamination. AAES research, funded in part by the tTSIA. is try',ing to ailter the Climate in peanut fields to reduce the potential Ifor otthieaks of' horers and at latosac enic f unc i. Giroxxers can manipulate soil tempera- turc and motisture hy chaniging the planting dtate and spacig hetxxeen roxxs of plants. T he premise of the stuidx wxas thfat the canopy of Liii oxx-roV peauts wxould close more quickly and shade the SOIL. producing a cooleir. more humid enx ironmnent. Such Conditions would reduce the potential for outhreaks hx these pests and cilcourac hetter control hy their natuirat enemies. I loxx cc. \AAFS research succests that time of planiting prov ies cieatei ciui- t roI t han iiarroxx row spacing. A study xxas conducted in 19t3, wxheii hot, dry conditions cauiised ani out hieak of" hbire rs and atiatox i2ci ic un cIi. Ihi eC diffteretit roxk spacings and txxo planiting dates wcrec used to alter the climate in field-plot studies at the Wirect ass Suhstat ion in Headland. Roxw spacings we re: sinigle r owxs spaced hy 54 inches (wxide), siiicle rowxs spaced at 36 inches (niormial ). and txxin sex en-inch rowxs spaced alter- itately at 22 inichies and 36 iniches 'N is of peanuts infected with an vhich may result in aflatoxin Yield 1,000- 800- 600 - 400 - 20 I Aflatoxin concentration 70 Early Late [arty "; Figure 2. Yield (pounds per acre) and aflatoxin (parts per billion) concentration in early- and late-planted peanuts. txxin). Pea- iitts xxere planted oii May ItI early ) and May 31 (late). Pr e da toir abhu iitIa1 iiCC xxas inca- sured wxcckly by pitfall traps aiid heatshcet sampt ing. [he ahundanice xif hor- ers xxas nicasm d hy siexvinig the soil undcr plaits. Peaniut podts and pegs xx rc sui face steriltized cx erx second xxeck and ticu- hated to detet miunc the amiouiit of' fungal inifection. At the cud (if the season, peanuts xxecie harxvested aiid seeds analyzed foir atfla- tox in concentrationi. L ate peanuts yielded less and had creater atltatoint cotitaintation thai did early pea- niuts (FEicure 2). P~lantin iidtate atffected the Climiate hx iticreast ig sotil temperature hx almoist 2?D itn late peanuts. Also. fewxxer predators xxr si ound iii late peanuts. xxhich contruhuted to the cucater intcstationis ol- L Cls aiid afiatoxiceniic Ifuni. Planits xxere largei aid protduced more nults pcr plant iii wxier rowx spacings he- cause therc xx% as less Comipetitioniio I i lht. wxater. and soil tiutrients. Coiiti aiy to the precmise. soil temperatures undci the cano~py Of txwin-roxx peanuts wxere actual lx hotter than normnal- or xxide-roxx peanuts: further research is nieeded to di scoxver whyix. ILcat feedlini catecrpillars,. such is the x clx ethean caterpillar. xxere less ahundant ini txxin-riox peanitts. as xxerc niatural ecimies. IHoxx- evxer. rowx spac'in g had iio aftfect on yield per acre. 111 ahundance. funczal infectoni, Oir aflatoxini Contamiination. 1These iesults suggest that platinti Carly xx ill help ax oid outbreaks of I.C(lb and aflatoxigeiC fungi. Eau ty Iptantiig also helps farmiirs axvoid duoutitelated yield reduic- tions. Future xxork xx ill help detetrmine the best xx axs to alter the limnate ini peanut fields to prventii outhr caks oft lesser corn- stalk horers aiid aflatoxiceniic funici. Stcxwart is a Postdoctoral Fcllox atid Mack us a Professor of Enttwoox\ lBoxxcn is ani Associ- ate Pirotessor anid Kloeppet is a Ptrotcssor and Head of Plant Pathology. l-dxatds is an Afiliate Ptrofessori oi Acrutonx and Sotils. Aluhrmxt Agt-iculturul L.r/ c rint nt Stulinn R.H. Jones, A.H. Chappelka, and D.H. West TREE SHELTERS: AN EFFECTIVE Low-COST WAY TO ESTABLISH STREET TREES RLccnt AAI'S hoSwed t hat A plast ic shcltcr s lirei, scedlI igs ae a cost x fiii piotectiilt newx stireet ti-c plantingsN lis is Is oodl ncesx high establishinil costs.t IITh C iii smaill. I inexpeinsixe irec, has ben axvoitcd because smnall trees ~ lxi ca porsorixii Forestry researchers haveap~osurvv~ll plastic tree shelter. rale aint of ten suf- iei too much tamna1c Ii ion xantls antd lawxnmnosers. plastic sheltemrs miay make it possble to protect simailler trees anti bringc them thtrough to suCCessfI establishmeInt. Most shelters arce stake-snpportet lutnbs thiee to usve inches in tdiamieter anti txxo to loin ICCi tail. Thes ale tianlslucenlt to atdmit light andt ope~n-topped to al lowx rain to entei and the tree to emherge. it one study. 550) one year-old seed- hungs i epmesentinc I I common shade Iree species xxeire plantetd at Al. Half wxere pi otectetd by foam-foot tiree shelter s: the othei s xxeire unsheltcmed. All xx eie mimicheti x itxi)o cubic feet of pine hark. Ensviron- mlitntal contditions weie typical of city stieet plantings: comnpactedl Soil cosveret imth a demtsc silt (If grasses andI wxeeds. i d P) p 0 0I n p ii tl sI ii p it ti p p' S helit ers had a st rongi po s itis e Ci lCCt on sUrs isal diiiinc the first 101 nmths (sec table). T he et' Icct wxas crecat I or 1Florida maple. rCdbntl. saw.xtooth oak. swxamp chestnutt oak, and nutiall oak. E~xcept for di ought-Seilsitis e katsuratree., Surs isal in Shelters wxas ci eater than XW"( hxich is consideied excellent. As eraged 05 er all species. shelieirs incieased f irsi-year hcicaht giossth alimoist f ivefold. Shelieired sawstooth oaks girexw the most, wxhile Floirida maples (crexx the least and actnal ly died back oniside the shchtcrs. ShLitis lcss base diameter -roxx h oc- iiiired inside shelteirs 0.8 in- ,idc, coimpaired to 01.9 inches. By rcduci ng li ht and xwind cifiects in the seedlings. the shelteirs af- cct phy siological processes that stimulate heicht crossth and sloss diaimeter cirowxth. In another test. 3 36 shelteired scedlings wxere planted in An- b ii rn and Opeli k a to determine p 1 acemintii and Clean Up. Cost per tree xxas S8.53. inclndincI Seedlill". Shelter. mulch. stake, transportation, and labor. Traditional tiee-planting methods cost S40) to S I001. L~nincil1 the first I0) mouths, less than ?O(7 of the shelters or seedin us wxere van- dlalizced. and no seedlline-s died dnc to dtirect tampering. The irate of tamperinc- xxas sig- nil-icantly affected by location. Greatest damage ocenrred in residential neighbor- hoods slightly morwe itear privsate thIian near puhlic honsing. An intermediate lev el occiii ed in parks, and the least oceni red in industimal parks adangudvloped richts-of-wax. F-or all species tested. shelters pros ided substantial Groxxth or Suiiisial ads antacs. W\ith the addced benefits oi piotectioi againsi laxx nmoxxci damage and lowx cost of instal at ion. tiree shelter s appeai to be a svable, inexpcnsiv e alter natisve I om establishinc tiees mn Alabama cities. Additional research is planned to chart lonc-tetri suirs isal ot shel- te redI trees andi to c ha rac teri ie hosw the climate xxithin shclters aficcts tree cmrowth. .ones is an A\ssistant Prioiessom, Chappclkai is an Associate Pirofessor and W\est is a Giraduiate St itCni ini Ioresiry. t 1k5 rY!I %R Siit \I v1 ( )r Sr _r DiiNG PI NI11 Wiit i ii 5a n alisum. All swcie hinted on puhlic roperty,. usually ni street richts- 1-way. anId iiilched sx ith mec bark. Pnblmc ot ices indlicated he purpose of the [elteis. On as etace, it 10k one person (0-25 ninnies to lace each tree. winlding tras el mec. material s r ep a ra t ion anti ng, shelter Species S riiiIi li Noi shtie W\ith sheliei .4('1 bari lu ...i..i.......... (Redbud) (Flowing dogwood)i 1 Kai ti rat i te) Fiiaml111 /s tcillS I/ li/tt i... (Green .i to Queiici ai u//lsi.......... (Whit' oak) Quet(' ihl hulm i i....... I Ssx amrl ie il iio) (Not thei n red oak)I hU11r I 1olia i//l...... /Cinie'e elnmi T O t~ l .... ... _t.. .... 46 86 45 83 84 100) 45s 96 38 86 52 96 59 10 79 100 92 100 tHeighii giowth No sthelier With shieler In. In. -17 0.4 0.4 ?2.3 3 191) 9.1 29.8 5.4t 32.6 3.1 1 .8 Data nut a aittable due to poor sulv sial. A labama Ai.ri idul/ IEx/)eroFiC/i .Stauiou B.E. Vaughn and K.K. Bost QUALITY MEDICAL CARE FOR CHILDREN COULD BECOME RARE IN RURAL AL.ABAMA C on 'Css and 1cLi slatos thruhout the nation are debating, the issues stirroiudini, health dare ax atlabil itx and costs. but it is rare for the x oices of pi ixate eitizens to be heard in this x ital discussion. ,\n ongoing AAEXS studx sur- x cxed concerns andI opiinions regaidin- the ax ailability of health care for the most x ul- net able members ofl societ\ precirant wxomen and infants. Results indicate that Alabama could lace a cirisis in the delix cry ol pr- and postnatal medical caie. Initilix1N t he I 991-1)3 sid iS oiught to deitirmine factoirs that might lead Alabamra ohstetricians and pediatiicians to continue ori discontinue thenr piractices in the state. Responses to this .surx cx rex ealed that 31) of 67 Alabama counties xxerc xxithout the Ser- x icesol these specialists. litiportantly .coun- ties xxithut such phy siciaiis tended to be rural. Results turther indicatedI that wxhiile mtany~ phy sicians xx rc considering discon- tiniit, Ieirsers ices. the retinuin oclosine_ practices xxerc ofl set by newx practices be- ing opeiied. H-owexver, the x'ast majority of' iiew practices xx rc beinii opeiied ini lat'ci toxx ins and cities. xxith a laii c piropor tion ofl rural care prils idceis thitnking about rlosin, shop., creatitig a Situation xxhetre rural I dli lies could lace a x acuum 01l medical eri vices. Ii a ol loxx-tp smuxcy, .riesearichers spoi led 1, 25 iibstetici aid pediatici patients. (Goals xx cie to determine the Lise itt these Serx ices. the sources of, support Ior the serx ices, and tgaxvel required ill rccixve the serxvices. Mone than 61)lol the xxomen responding to this surit xwxxork outside thle home11. Aion- these xxotimen, nearly one-third re- pitted that employer-Paid health insurailce xxas a majotr factotr in their decisiiti tot hold .--- *1 - p theirrespectix e ths. An additional 121) xxomen r epotrted that iiedical benchits xxere influen- tial in their spouses' worik decisions. Most respotndents ic- porited they xxerc satis- tied xxith the quality ol1_ caric thle x ieeix ed fr-om lietir obstetiricians and pediatricians. The east nmajorit\ said they xxould be xxwIling to fldloxx the phy sicians to ncxxi locations xxithin thcii tespectix ecounties. Also. nlost respotndents indicated thex Could finid care 0il equal quality if their doctot ' piacties xxeie closed. Hitxx cxci moire thin 25 % ol the wxomen said health care ol equal qualitx' xxould not be ax ailable if their current obstetricians or pediatriciais lect the area. On ax erage, these wome rtleicpoirted they xxoiuld be Iforced to Commute an extra 26 miles each dax to reach a Phy siciain Piroxidin up aie of equal quality. Ox ciall, these Surx cxs su cgest that iruiial Al abati ans ate iindet setsed xx ith irespect ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT ST AUBURN UNIVERSITY AUBURN UNIVERSITY. ALABAMA 36849-540: Lowell T. Frobish, Director POSTMASTER-Address Crrection Requiested / lto the d\di latil itx of, obstetic _ ;nd pediatric ser\ ices. T here ( are tox wei pli\ sicians ax i ifIableI toi piroxvide these set xices, a lai oei portion oii obsteti icians and pediaticiands arc consid- ci ing cloingii thenr pract ices. and the distance trax eled to receixve these serx\ iees is greater fir rural elti/ens. It the risk ot losiin' obstetic and pediatric sers tees is ireilized, these rural residents 1max1 ind it dif ficult to replace them xx ith neaib\ sei- teecs of equal yuality. As the debates oxver health eare eontinue in eomin1 ttomths. information fromi sir- ex S such as this one must he made ax ail- able to pol iey makers wxho ean help assure that obstetic and pediatric serx iees are prox ided in a timely and cost- iciest man- ner lto all citi lens. regairdless of xxheire thex liv e. These f indings indieate that oui I ural eitizens are eoneeriied wxith health eare is- sues and needI sensitixC eConsideration in national and statexxide founis. Vaugihn is ai Priofessor aind Bost is Ph.D . can- ATION NON-PROFIT ORG. POSTAGE & FEES PAID 3 PERMIT NO. 9 AUBURN, ALA.