rrrQ F-F F FQ rr
J It- C; A i: *- Lj Jiw r
V. ~
~- ~ z-J
I
IN THIS ISSUE
Poultry Byproduct Can Be Used to Produce Leaner Pigs 3
Crop Rotation a Powerful Weapon Against Peanut Pests 4
Insect Scouting Reduces Insecticide Use on Tomatoes 5
Bermuda: Most Profitable Grass for Turf Production? 6
Cotton Farmers Face Small Risk In Expanding
Farm Program Commodity Base 7
Nurseries Can Preserve Water Quality
with Cyclic Irrigation :8
Chemical Changes Chrysanthemum Flower Color 9
Possible New Weapon Against AIDS. and .
Animal Retroviruses Discovered 10
Drop Applicator Developed for Poultry Litter__ ______ 11
Filter Strips Help Manage Waste Lagoon Effluent 12
New Bait Proves Effective in Controlling Termites 13
Ceiling Fans Reduce Total Energy Use
in Broiler Production 14
Special Diets Boost Growth of Stocker Calves 15
AU GroundCover: New Caley Pea a Boon for Producers 16
ON THE COVER: Chrysanthemum production in a commercial nursery
operation is featured on this issue's cover. AAES horticulture researchers
have discovered some "chemical magic" that could change the way mums
are produced and marketed. See the article on page 9.
F all 1 9 9 4 V olu m e 4 1 N u m b e r 3
A quarterly report of research published by the
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station,
Auburn University.
LOWELL T. 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
Professor of 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 hierein
is available to all persons without regard to race,
color, sex, or national origin.
I i I - I
DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS
This 
issue of 
Highlights 
will be 
the last
of its kind. It will be replaced next
quarter with a new, we hope better High-
lights that will look a great deal different
and read somewhat different.
Some of you will be helping us evaluate
the things you like and dislike about the
current Highlights, because every tenth
person on our mailing list has received a
questionnaire. When the new Highlights
comes out in December, a similar question-
naire will be mailed.
We are committed to bringing you
our readers and supporters-the best pos-
sible research magazine. We believe we
had a good one already, and we are fine-
tuning it more than we are changing it.
It will look different due to a new
design, with more modernized use of color
and art. Some articles will be longer and
some shorter-the big difference is not
being tied to the one article per page style
that has existed since Highlights began in
1954.
Another difference will be expansion
of the Director's Comments. Faculty,
Deans, and Department Head's will present
timely subjects. Though I enjoy writing
these columns, I suspect the space will be
better served by providing additional re-
search comments from our scientists.
In examining Highlights since 1954,
changes in its appearance have been made
about every 10 years. About 10 years ago,
we began to use four-color illustrations on
the cover and on some inside editorial pages.
In the new issue, we will use color through-
out the magazine. Improvements in print-
ing technology allow us to do much of this
work in our own office, thus increasing the
cost only slightly.
tt~
L.I. Chiba, H.W. Ivey, K.A. Cummins, and B.E. Gamble
POULTRY
BYPRODUCT
CAN BE USED
TO PRODUCE
LEANER PIGS
C onuersinc prefei lean meat, swine
producers thri xc on more efficient
productiont practices, aniid the PO1i I
try industry must find wxays to dispose of
xxaste products ini an iincreasiingly Iiragile
einxironmnent Findings from an AAES Study
beinefit atlI three groups.
In irieceitt experi ments. researchers found
Ithat hli ghI-pro teitn diets can reduce fat aceu-
imulatioin in pi's, even when the diets rely
oni low-quality protein Sources Such as
feather meal. D~iets supplemented xxith
feathe1r illeal. a bypIroduoct of pouIltry Pro-
cessin1g, xxcie fI t oLi~ ~ prtodulce carcass
qual ity equial to diets that cointain1 soy beain
iteal as the only proteiin suppleimeint.
Researchers evaluated hlydrolyz.ed
feathe1r ialI as a souricc of extra diet arxy
protein1 to eithance leanness ott fiiisher pigs.
[Featheri mleal is hligh iin total
protteini (80- 85%) but deficient 
FU- iiir
in sonme amtino) 
acids, imost 
i01
plirtaily lysi ne. A prel iilary Vai abl
Study indicated thlat pigs need
about 0(.73% dietary ly sine (or
optiituim oxeral I pertformlance.
Therefore, a dIi et formlliIated 
C'omnpositi
Ci ude pi iif
to contain 0 .73x/( ly sine was I \ sitieIpit
chosen its thle basis f oi a sec- 
G;rowth p
W\eight pi
Oild stuLidy. 
Gini to lee
Goals of the second study C'areass tr
(0th ih ha
were to comtipare feather 
meal tLoin imLiset
to s y bean meal as a sou~irce ot P'it. lean i
extria pirote ini and to dete rine 
SBM=xtSOY
whethler leanness is imipIrovxed =the samle
by iincreased proteiin 
per ac or To 
sr
by increased ainol acid coil Iso-N diets
tents. ly sine in particua r. Diets tested in the
Stuidy are described in the table.
"Medium" diets were considered to be
the optimum in this study. It wxas expected
that the "high" diets, wxhich provided extra
lysine and/or protein. xxould hav e no effect
on the lean growth rate but would reduce
the fat accumuilation rate, thus impiroxving~
leanness of finisher pigs. A slight depres-
sion in wxeight gain of pigs because of
reduced tat acciretion may not be that im-
portant considering today's consumer de-
mands for lean meat products.
As anticipated, weight gain xxas less in
pigs ted the high-protein/lysine soybean
meal diet (High SBM) and the high-protein
feather meal diet (Iso-N). This depiession
in wxeight gain wxas not obserxved in pigs fed
the high-ly sine feather meal diet (Iso-Lys).
paitly because of possible increases in the
weights of internal organs for this group.
There wxas no clear effect of dietary treat-
ments on the efficiency ot wxeight gain.
Tenth irib back-fat wxas lowex ci0.97 xcirsus
ni Io i i sits Smxifvn 'Vi Mr:it : s H)D Uittni t / I)I'iXiHi i
eow iii Pi KFRNI-i MT(1 ,AND C eCsR 's Txi s n. F issui u
C Fecaiher e
SBM kso I s
Med nigh Med High xMe
on fl diets
it (Ih./Ihyi
aits
cktat (n.)
((73 0.85 0.73 0.85 0.
iid ~s 2.15 1.99 2.10 2.12
5.95
53.8
bean mieal;I. o-y =x the samne lx sine coniteni as ihe StBM
ci tde pirotein cointeti as ihe SBM diets; Med =medium.
an adequa~te supply of l\ sine oi pt otein f rom comnmon I
and StBM prosided (.1, ~lysine andl 13 
2
% protetinto tihe
, espec.ti\ely. anid leather meal supplied additional Ix sine
(1.99 1.17 (0.95 1.
6.15 5.34 6.08 5.
1.11I inches). andi h(II amaiscle area xxas
larger (6.12 v~xersus 5.74 square inches) ini
pigs ted the high diets. These results wxere
reflected in percent carcass lean (54.9 xver-
sus 53.31%).
As the protein content of diets increases,
a greater proportion of total energy is pro-
xvided by protein. This decieases the amount
of dietary energy that can be efficiently
used by pigs, and it has been shoxxn that
protein is not a good source of energx . Also,
pigs fed the high-protein diet are likely to
use more energy, which may further reduce
energy ax ai lable for excess fat accretion.
These are possible factors responsible foi
improxved carcass quality.
In summary. wxeight gain of pigs gener-
ally decreased as dietary Ilysine and protein
increased, thereby extending the feeding
period slightly (2.3 days more to reach 239
pounds). Howxexver. carcass quiality wxas im-
proxved by feeding *'high" diets. In addition.
the results indicate that af low- qual ity Pro-
teiti source caii be used ef fectixely ini diets
designed to enhance leanness
Mi,.o 
ofiihepi.heeoe ((
offnihrpg.Thrfoed
pending oin the marketine
in-tixve 
tor producing 
lean 
pigs.
tso-N proxviding extra dietary pro-
F1h teina might be ax viable alterna-
tixve to improxve carcass qual-
I6 ity. Also, depending on the
65 ((.70 price of feather meal and howx
24 2.05 it 
is incorporated 
into the diet,
31 02 the cost of swine 
feed can be
reduaced.
11 0.97
92 6.06 Chiba is an Assistant 
Professor
7 54.9 and C'umns is a Prof essor at
diet; Io-N Aniamal 
and Diry Sciences. 
Ix ex
is aupciriniendenti and (urnhte is
.cdsin a otir Assi siant Suapcintenadent iot the
Iso-Lys and Wit cciass Sn bstat ion.
and pi otein.
AlIabama At/ric 'titr! Expcerime~nt Station
410,
:
14,
A.K. Hagan, K.L. Bowen, and J.R. 'Neeks
CROP ROTATION A POWERFUL
WEAPON AGAINST PEANUT PESTS
Crop rot at ion has lone been reclom-
milnded c as a control for the de -
StructiNe peanuit pests whiiite mold
and nematodes. 10 determine the x alue of'
crop rotat ion as a peanut pest management
tool. AAEIS studies xxeie conducted in Ala-
ha inafIarm hlIds to de tern ine the in pact ot
ciropping sequence on the occurrence of'
diseases and nematodes and to document
pest-related yield loss.
Tijals xx cre condncted in 16 fields in
1 991. 21 fields in 1992, and 22 f ids in
1993. Fields had one of the folloxxi ng crop-
ping histories: conti nuious peanut pioduc-
tion includlinLI (allowxed set aside land (three
ycar mlinimlui 1: one yeai of peanuts behind
one yeai of ciii ii gra in so rghum, or clean
summer f allox: peanuts alter twxo to three
ye aris of cot ton or corn: andi peanuts atte r
bahiagrass (fiv e-year minimum). White
mold and li mh rot incidence wxas measured
alter the peanuts weem ited. Defoliation
I rout early eal spot and i oot-knot jx enile
numnbers wercie assessed at the end of the
grow'Aing season.
In 1991, wh ite mold wAas largely absent.
and yields 'A ere hi ghest 'Ahen peanuts wxcie
grown behind bahiagirass. Wihen peaniuts
lt)Iloxxd ci lxo or thro c;11 ~I cor oriiH
White-mold-infected peanut plant.
cotton. wxhite mold incidence wxas hi -,her
and yields we rc loxxer 'Aheii compared wAith
those of peanuts groxxni behind bahiagrass.
Wh ite mold peaked 'Ahere peanuts wxere
giO'A n exvery other y ear. D~espite increased
wh ite mold. yield in these f'ields 'Aas siiilar
to those xxheirc peanuts
xx re cropped cx ery third
year. Pooiest yield.
along wxith moderaic
wxhite mold and sex cic
nematode pressure. (k'
curred in fields in con
tinuous peanuts.
Summer 1992 xxas
wxetter and cooler than
the previous year. Again.
than behind bahiagrass. but xyields remai ned
high. due in pai t to sexveial timely shoxxers.
Despite the drough1t. wxhite mold incidence
in fields xxheire peanuts xxere growxn ex ery.
txxox ears or cx crx xear xxas si milai to those
lx els seen in the precxious txxox ears. Yields
CHOPPIsi. SEQUENCE AND THlE OCt RRENCE or' WHITE MOiD om PEANSci
Peanuts after bahiai
Pe.1nuti ,eer 3 xi.
199 1992 1993
Hts Yielt Htis Yield Hiis Yield
No. L/a. N o. I/. No. Lbi a
1)3 3,859) 0.8 3.932 0) 2.714
5.5 3.6992 4.6 4,0375 3.9 3.274
14.5 3.608 15. 3,645 t1. t 2 .481
5.8 3,222 11.9 329 10.8 2.350
One hiti one tooi of tou %s iih one or iioie diseased pts. Numbier in
table indicaies hiis per 1100 feel of iiiw.
the incidence of xxhite mold was loxx xx heire
pecanuits xxere growAn behind bahiagrass.
Yields xxere reduced in sexveral fields by
caily l eafspot and limb rot. Despite higher
lx els of xxhite mold, xyields in fields rotated
to peanuits cx crv three years xxere similar to
those tor peanuts groxxn behind bahiagrass.
One of nine f ields accounted for nearly all
the wh ite mold recorded in the three-year
rotat ion. Incidence of xxhite mold wxas hig~h-
est in those f ields cropped to peanuts ex cry
other x ear. Also, x ields in these fields xxere
300-400 pounds per acre loxxer.
- I ,oxxest yields. seen in fields in
continuous peanut production,
werxcie due to a combination of
hiMte mold and root-knot
~ kiflmitodes.
Unusuially hot, dry slim-
fie eather in 1993 reduiced
ient yields and also sup-
~~pesed dIisceise and neimatode
ic t.No xxhite mold xxas
W W I Icc inpeanuits groxxn behind
S hahiagrass, although yield in
"ta- th igle field in a bahiagrass-
S peanult rotation xxas limited by
_____ dirouight. Disease incidence xxas
higher in peanuits cropped after
ixxwo years of cotton or corn
n both roiaionu categories xxere loxx c than
those seen in peanuts growxxn after txxo xycars
of corn or cotton.
The cost for establishing bahiagrass,
prorated oxvcr 10 years is abouit $85.75 per
acie. Wh ile simply applying the nexxly Ia-
beledfu lngicidle Foliclir
1
Nt costs abouit $24
per acre (net), additional applications ot
TemikTMt xx ill be needed to control nema-
todes, xx hich Aouild cost up to S76 per acre
pci year. Despite the cost of growxing
bahiagrass or cotton, compelling reasons
for employing crop rotation aire an absence
of destructixve neimatodes. elimination of
costly pesticide inputs. bettei soil tilIth, and
dixersification of farm income sources.
Crop rotation is a potent xxeapon against
xxhite mold and nematodes in peanuits. Pea-
nuits grown behind bahiagrass, and to a
lesserextent peanuits planted after txxo y ears
of corn or cotton. sut Icircd far less xxhite
mold damaio, had tower root-knot larxval
popullations. and produced more peanuts.
Cropping peanuits exvcry year oir twxo years
not only increased the risk (if disease-re-
lited yield loss buit also the need for costly
control inpuits.
Haizan is a Pirofessoi and Boxx ci is an Associate
Piroflessoir of Plant Paitho logyi. We eks is an A sso-
ciate Professor of I niomol ogy.
A labamia Algi-icidtm-al Exjpcl-iinnt Station
G.W. Zehnder, E.J. Sikora, W.R. Goodman. and M.H. Hollingsworth
INSECT SCOUTING REDUCI'S
INSECTICIDE USE ON TOM \T"OU's
stroy benfca ine t i n c ieav
No4
Fruitworm tarvae feeding on a tomato.
A pprox imately 7,50)0 acres of
ftrcshI-market tominat oes x alu ed at
$50) itllion arc groxxn annually
ini Alabama. Howx cxer. mat ketable yields
cant he greatly reduiced by the tomato frutit-
wxorm. A Stuidy at the AAES North Ala-
bama Horticu Itut c Suibstationi in Cullmiian
showxedc that Scout ing for this pest saxves
insect icicle cotsts atid increases net profIit.
Ftutitxxorm mtoiths usutally lay eglgs oti
the upper tomtato plant folitage next to the
flowxers. After hatchin g. larxvae first feed on
the foliage but later bore into the fruit. It is
not uncommon to obserxve irutitwxorm Iced-
ing holes on all fruit wheti large popula-
tionis of the insect are not controlled.
Many farmers spray sytithetic insecti-
cides onc or more times a week, regardless
of xxhlethet an'y lruitxxonus are actutally
present. Although these calcndar-tbased
practices are genierally effective. frequenit
and unnliecessary sprays arc expensixe, de-
moire insecticide residues on tomatoes.
The AAES Study wxas designed to
determinte xxhether insecticides appiled
onl', wxhen fruitxxorm ells wxere detected
wxoulId ofter the same protection as calen-
dat-based spray s. Researchers sexvaluated
a sy nthetic insecticide. esfenxalerate.
xxhich is sold as Asania XLT't: and a
biological. enxvironmental ly sate insecti-
cide. Bacil/us ti,,insic si. xxhich is sold
us Jaxelin 
WGTj(t
Spring and summer tomato plantings
xxetc established in 1992 and 1993. In the
scoutitig treatmett foliage wxas exam-
ned twxice wxeeklyx and insecticides were
applied only wxhetn eggs were detected.
In calenidar-based treatments, plants re-
ceixved we ekly spraxys of estenx alerate
beginlning at flowxer or B. Itoutigien~is
atfter the first eggs were spotted.
Initsecticide s xxere applied accord-
ing to label recommnendat ions.
There wxere no marked dif- 
Treait
foereCS in IiLiltt damage amonig
the treatmients anid all gaxve Supe-
nior f ruitwxorm 
control cotmpared 
if
with notitreated plots (Table I ). FViel
Researchers fountd that appl 
icatiotns B.~ du
of esfetixalerate can be teduced Nott
almost 60%I wxith Scouting, 
xxithout =
any reduiction in fruit quality or '
y ield. B. rlurint iesisxI
xxas effectixve lot fruit- 
PROMCi t
wxorm control, particu- To
I arl y i I applications 
xxere ltmen
based on Scoutirng. Yields
xxere eqluixvalent ini all
treatmlients. 
scnara 
(
On axverage, per-acre t sicaxalerate 
(Si
inisecticide cost sax ings . itwiiemmt'l 
I
associated xxith the use of
scoutting programs were Coti 
pit 514
itca ett Ne't pi
S44.22 and 539 for expenses.iiiiudi
esfetixalerate and B. oni a budget 
dcxc
-Season xx ith low~
th/itig14 (ix.is re spec- 'Cealendat-ha
tixely (Table 2). Axerage 4S5 applicationts
net prof i ts consi1derng maclintery and
labor costs xxere 559.25 and 566.53 per
acre hi her lot esfenv'alerate and B.
thulnoi i'nxi.S. respectively, when scouting'
xxas used. The cost ot Scoutiii" xxas esti-
niated to be only $l
6
-S10 per acre.
B~enefits of Scouting were greatest in
spiing 1992. wxhen fr uitxxornm densit', wxas
lowxest. Scouti no detetrmined that I r-uitwxorm
populations were low, so insecticide sprays
wxerc recommended inftrequent ly . In a cal-
endar-based program, s praxys are applied
on schedule to prev ent possible damage.
ev en if fewx insects aire present.
These results exemplify the adage.
"Knowsledge is power." Knowxledge of pest
densit', gained froni Scouiting can result in
optimal use ol insecticides and higher pro-
duct ion protits.
Zeh ndet is an A ssoc iate Professor of FEntoml-
ogx . Si kotra is an Assisiant Pirotfcssor of Plani
Pathology. (Goodnman is~ an Assistant Pirotessor of
Agicutrat Economiics and Rut al Soc tology.
Hollingswxxxorth is Suaperin tendenti of the N ort
Alabama Horticultur e Substation.
i,, Sio mei its n Cxi (xi 'sitR-Bxsi~ ii oxixro
ment xvx awx rm-itdamai~ged ii nit Axg spt ays
1992 1993
Pct. Prt. No.
ixalerate (C ) 6.7 6.1) 8.1)
ix ,leratc (S) 3.5 2.8 3.25
ilinlili ((C) 1. 5.8 71)
tiii'tiii (S) 7.7 6.11 41)
reated cointiol 2'6.4 26. 011
calendar-based applicationts, sptrayed oitce a xxeek.
applitcat i ons haled in i cout ing .
('si'NisMisO- OF IWA IR Ini COSTS xND Ni
is PROFiIiS FOR Si i iiPG xNii CUxiLMi)xR-l xVHi
xi. xiIi I I iRN COttux (I ROL PtioiGtixxi
ing t1992' Axg. ox et tutu seasonst
Cost Profit Ciost Ptofit
83.79 1.215.16 74418 1.218.0)4
1' 18.62 1 286.36 3(0.26 1,277 29
C) 9)1)00 1.2012.59 91.001 1.182.74
S) 39.001 1.260.59 52.00 t1.249.27
son cost Ot itt xcid ifusaed ini the xpiay ptrogrami
ofiti is pet -.eaxuon rtur ati t.boixe all tomtiotu prodtuctioni
na ru machintetx and labut itx. xxhich is ca.lcated hatsed
loped lot xlahamxa tiexst mar ket tomtatox ptuinoi
cxi t fritxxormii densmt.
sed appl icatiotnx. sprayed once a xxeek.
based) on sco iutitng.
Alabamalu A i-icultuu- 'u7 ixpiintenr Station
BERMUDA:
MOST
PROFITABLE
GRASS FOR
TURF
PRODUCTION?
T ml rass-sod has been one of, the
miajoir growsxth enterprises ini
\labama's acricultural seettir, in-
itea,.mng fiom abitut 501) acres in the late
1 960~s ttt about 25.00)0 acres totday.- As pitt
duction expands and mar kets mature, prt-
ihccet's ate increasinugly concerned with the
relatise prot'itability of the major turfgrass
species grins n in the state: bermuidac11rass.
ztt'siagrass. and cent ipedegrass.
Bermndagrass has traditionally been the
prinmary tutigrass grown in Alabama. bit
there is inetreasinti interest amonc crossers
iii the Ii cher121 saluned ci rasses. Bermudacrass
ts pical ly has at wsholesale price rangce o't 65
.enlts 5to '$1.20) per Squiare yard. but
zoystagrass may range frini $ 1.60 to $2.51),
arid cetitipedegrass from 80) cents to $2.11).
Gis ci this price disparity. prtdceris
tig ht citnsider goinistg centipede or /tn-
sia tt be the best optioin for miaxtimizing tiet
rtSt is t aunnit of land. However, consid-
ci g otnlIs the relative prices of the grasses
may lead to poo decisitns. The hicher
valued grasses has e ptrtductioni cycles tis i
tir nte times lonh-ct thain bermuntda. Thus,
the issue ofl wihich crass is the best choice
for maxitmtitinig pi 1)its is unclear.
Tt address this issue, AAES ecotnomiists
desvelttped a computer model to anialyzec
boss turfgrass price Icxels affect prof it-
ima xii nti/tug, crop-miix decisions. Decisiuns
oti a 100-)actre farm oxver a seven-year pe-
t~'~~* 
4
t
ii--.--
t~ ,...' - -
riod wsere siinn lated. One goad wsas to
determiine the point at wshich it becomes
econtomicaly Isfeasible to sx" itch produc-
tion Ifrom bermutda to the hi chet' salued
crasses. The analysis is timtst applicable
ton Stoutherni Alabama and assumes that
miarkets exist ftor crasses crowxn.
Anmng the many variables prm
crammed inito the model xias the effect of
seasonal fluctuations in the price ot'
bermuda. The price of bermnuda is genmerally
at its peak ini March and April bitt then oftetn
declines until the end of the grossing sea-
son. The base, earls-seasoni price of
betrmuda xsas Set at S 1.0)0 per~ square yard.
wsith seasonality reflected as at lixe-ceints-
per-month decline. Base prices for centi-
pede and zoysia we rc $ 1.22 and $ 1.85 per
square y~atrd, respectisvely . At these base
levels. net proflits ate miaximiut ed by des ot-
inc all 1001 acres to betrmnuda.
Inter estinugly,. 10)0 acres tif bermnuda re-
minted the tipti mum chouice utiil its price
dropped tto 60) cents per square yard (see
table). At this price. 7 
3
.(6 acre ofmi bermu~da
wiere established in Match onf the fitrst year.
aind 26.4 acres of zoysia wxetc established in
April. After March of the 1tini th year. all
actres wsect- plainted in /moysia.
Holditic the base price fotr cetntipede
constant arid Simulating the seasonality of)
bermruida prices. zoysia recached 52.65 per
Square y aid before it became feasible to
J.L. Adrian. P.A. Duffy. and W.M. Loyd
Eri o'. tt i it its eri liP Ii
IJi iii 5 tsN )iil t i (tt's (tititstttss
%si t, I I IV'sroeik iSitn I lut
100-( Ri ii Ipt ur(Hs, FRsits,'
I'l il' prites Acteag'e Net MUMir
N. 1)o4
Base~ situLat ion'
letiiiiid I' 15 .) 100) 1.61 17
('e I (6.S I
P'rice sensiti s its anlcisis on be rmuda(1
tierinttida (5.60) 736 603h,53 8
centipede S 1.1I) 26.4
Price sensit isitc atal si' on centipedeI
Icentipede X5171 30,
/.ii iSI 5SS (
Price ',eniti it analhsj' on iox',ii
Ileirmuda (SI1.001) 98 1,(t15,987
c entipede 61I2 U
/ns sia (52.5 24
I he-e aWIial\ se sste se ,OilII pic d.e lin ie, in
her riida'rass ott Iis e cent, per imonih.
I he gital oii ch alalsis is to delci nine iihich
iiiihiiratiiii Ott gMaSe IMIiiaiii/CS pr)iiiti Iti Liscii
set ofi pices and resitlree ittinti Thle three
picei serisiti its scenrios dlepict the piint al Xs Iiwh
iti heitires eiiniriiriiiI Ieasil to, plant
eI iC- tither thain hbet da iitl et r etuin s ate Iha
-es en-seat perioid.
I Irse nitumhers 55er e stabl i shed as I he hise I rm
wis h the ricre sensitis it ainals es wee miad~e.
Ihlese ailea ce ciiniationis retleit lie prie lesel
tor the respeetisec giass al ic h the iiptimal com-
binio ch iii ~aned.l
Siitiate its produlnition. At this pi ce. 98
actres w\ere allocated to bet muda and twso
acres to zoysia in the first sear. I]'his combi-
nation wsas maintained until September of
year six wxhen the two acres wiere reallo-
cated to bermuda. Si mi larls , the price of
centipede reached 52.72 betor c it becante
Part o1 the optimum mix. At this price, 7(0
actrcs ot berm udca and 301 acres ol centipede
wiete produced in all sev en years.
Based on current market price ranges.
price s ariations fot these girasses has e little
elifeel on the pr ofit-maximizimg production
mix. This analy sis illusti-ates the impor-
tance ot the crasses' relative prorduction
cycles in optimum turt combitiations. Ber-
mulda tends to dtinate because its Shtrrtet
pitoduction cy c has a timely influnenee on
cash tioss. H-owxevecr, demand condittions in
parti en lar markets tr areas may alect this
relationship.
Adrian is it Pt itfesstir. DuctI I is aii Asstieiate
Ptrofessorr. and I liiid is a former Gitadutate Re-
scateh Assistant itn Artitultural Econoimics and
Rural Soittotlogy.
AlIabaima Agi-i(uului;-mil Esp7er-imntt .Staltin
J.L. Clark, P.A. Duffy, and G.J. Young
COTTON FARMERS FACE SMALL RISK IN
EXPANDING FARM PROGRAM COMMODITY 
BASE
T he expansion 
of cotton acre-
age in the Southeast has been
attributed in part to the South- 2
eastern Boll Weevil Eradication pro-
gram, which has significantly in-
creased yields and/or lowered pesti- 40
cide costs in the region.
Cotton acreage eligible for enroll-
ment in the eradication program, as 60
well as the Farm Bill commodity pro-
gram, is calculated as a moving aver-
age of acres planted for the three-year
period before enrollment. In exchange
for limiting cotton acreage to a por-
tion of this "base," 
producers are eli- 
1P
fa
gible for deficiency payments. To ex- po
pand base, farmers can plant cotton is
th
outside of the farm 
program for one or 
re
more years. However, many fear this
practice exposes them to financial risk.
Evaluation of actual risks involved in
base expansion is particularly important as
the eradication program expands across the
region. In an AAES study, researchers at
AU and Auburn University at Montgomery
compared the risk faced by base-expanding
producers with a more conservative strat-
egy of remaining within initial base levels.
Researchers used a whole-farm program-
ming model to develop two five-year, profit-
maximizing farm plans for a hypothetical
1,692-acre farm in Southwest Alabama.
The first plan involved building base by
dropping out of the cotton program for two
years. The second plan involved staying
inside program limits every year. Cotton,
soybeans, and wheat are the crop alterna-
tives for the farms Variable costs of produc-
tion and mean crop yields and prices were
based on budgets from the Alabama Coop-
erative Extension Service. Fixed costs and
other farm characteristics were based on
data from the Alabama Farm Analysis As-
sociation. The hypothetical farm was as-
RESULTS OF SIMULATION OF BASE EXPANSION VS.
No BASE EXPANSION OVER A FIVE-YEAR HORIZON,
1,692-ACRE COTTON FARM IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA
1
Expansion No expansi
)% initial debt
Probability of survival 100% 100%
Probability of success 85% 98%
After-tax net present value $418,207 $361,80
S% initial debt
Probability of survival 100% 100%
Probability of success 83% 87%
After-tax net present value $329,393 $274,88
)% initial debt
Probability of survival 90% 100%
Probability of success 69% 60%
After-tax net present value $75,232 $80,255
)% initial debt
Probability of survival 56% 66%
Probability of success 43% 32%
After-tax net present value -$214,655 -$200,3
robability of survival is number of times out of 100 that
rm remains solvent for the full five years, under differ
Sssible yields and price combinations. Probability of succ
percentage of times the farm 
achieves returns to equity 
higi
an those that would have been achieved with an investm
turning 5% per year.
sumed to have cotton base on half its crop-
land acres.
Each farm plan was simulated using
FLIPSIM V, a firm level simulation model
developed at Texas A&M. To simulate
the risks of real-world farming, the model
draws from the likely range of prices and
yields a farmer would face. For each crop-
mix scenario, the model measured (1)
probability of farm survival, the farm's
chances of remaining solvent throughout
the simulation period; (2) probability of
success, the potential of a farmer's equity
earning potential exceeding 5% per year;
and (3) average after-tax net present value,
a current dollar measurement of after-tax
returns.
Because farm debt significantly affects
risk of failure, the two strategies were
simulated for initial debt levels ranging
from 20-80% of total assets. Long-term
debt was incurred at an interest rate of 10%
for 30 years. Intermediate capital could be
borrowed for seven years at an annual rate
of 12%, and operating capital could be
borrowed at a 12% annual rate for
on six-month periods.
Researchers found that probabil-
ity of survival is not greatly affected
)7 by base expansion. When initial debt
level is 20-40%, probability of sur-
vival is 100%, whether or not the
0 farmer expands base. As debt level
increases, probability of survival falls.
Althoughriskof farmfailure increases
when base expansion is pursued, the
risk is not dramatic (see table).
A farm that increases its net worth
87
over the planning horizon is consid-
the ered successful. Probability of eco-
ent
ess nomic success is highest for farms
her that remain in the program. 
But in
ent
most cases, the difference in success
rate is not large.
For debt levels less than 60%, base ex-
pansion results in a considerably greater
average after-tax net present value. At 60%
and above, constant base results in a higher
average after-tax net present value.
These results indicate that under 1990
Farm Bill provisions, base-expansion can
be undertaken with only a small amount of
increased risk of farm failure. Low-debt
producers in particular should not fear ex-
posure to risk in considering base expan-
sion.
For policy makers these results are
particularly important as the Boll Weevil
Eradication program moves into North
Alabama and Mississippi. While the in-
creased yields associated with the program
may be less in these areas, policy makers
must consider the potential for more base
expansion as the program is implemented.
The upcoming 1995 Farm Bill, however,
could significantly alter the incentives for
base expansion.
Duffy and Young are Associate Professors of
Agricultural Economics. Clark is an Associate
Professor of Economics at AUM.
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
D C Fare C H G ilam G- Keever. and J.W. Olive
- ___ LL&
I~d ~, ' C. . *-.bb
uccessful production of container- 
structed to collect contailnc Icchate 
and
grown ornamental plants requires runoff. Irrigation treatments included 1.3
adcquate nutrients and water, but centimeters (one cm equals 0.39 inch) of
lar ge volues of oxerhead sprinkler irrigIa- water applied in a continuous one houi
tion can create a I lor of nitrocen-laden application. twxo 30-minute cycles. or three
eftluent that is a threat to the envxironment. 20-miniute cycles; and 0.6 cm of water
in AAES research, cyclic irrigation - wa- applied in a continuous 3(-minute applica-
tering in short. fiequent interals - re- tion, txo 15-minute cycles, or three 10-
dIuced water runoff and nitrogen leachingo. minute cycles. All cyclic treatments had a
Compacta holly plants were potted into onehou r resting phase between irrigcations.
ani amended Pine bark: peat giroxing me- Contai ner leachate. xw ater that drained out
Cium in one-gallo containers. T'o rates of of containers: and irrication runoff. water
controlled-release Iertilizer were incorpo- that fell between the pots. were monitored
rated into the medium before potting: 16 one hour after irrigation.
and I2 pounds of 17-7-I2 per cubic y ard. Containei leachate xolumes wre 18'/
'I he high- and low lerti lizer treatments xere hi cher in the one-hour. 1.3-cm irrigation.
later topdressed xith 0.6 and (.8 ounce. xhen compared to the two- and three-cycle
respectively of 17 7 12 pei pot. 1.3-cm treatments. Leachate volume was
Water collection modules were con- about the same in both 1.3-cm cyclic treat
ments. Fertilizer rates had no
effect on leaching. reg-,ard less of
Liters/ Total effluent the irrigation 
treatnent.
module -Runoff 
The 0.6-cm treatment applied
35 -Container 
leachate in a single 30-minute 
irrigation
30 iesulted in 32% more container
25 / leachate than the 0.6 cm cxclie
I 20 applications. Txwo 15-minute.
15 
0.6-cm applications produced
50(4 more leachate than three
I10 
i' 106c apiain 
spoue
5 10-minute. 0.6-cm ccles.
5
0 Total eftluciit -coiitaiiici
Treatment 1 2 3 4 5 6 leachate plus irrigation runoffl
Nitrate loss (1331 1129) 11081 1631 152) (37) as reduced about 10!c bx
cyclic irrigation when 1.3 cm
Effects of six irrigation treatments on container leachate
and irrigation runoff. Nitrate-N loss (milligrams per pot) for was applied. Reducing continu-
each treatment are in parentheses under the 
respective otis irrication Itrom I.3 cm 
to 0.6
treatment numbers. Treatment 1 =1.3 cm irrigation applied
in a one-hour continuous application; 2 = 1.3 cm, two 30- cm reduced total efflient by
minute cycles; 3 = 1.3 cm, 
three 20-minute cycles; 
4 = 0.6 511%(. Total effluent 
xwas 13%
cm, one 30-minute application; 5 = 0.6 cm, two 15-minute
cycles; 6 = 0.6 cm, three 10-minute cycles. less in the 0.6-cm cxclic applica-
tions than in the 0.6-cm. 30-minute con-
tinuous irrigation. About 9% less total ef-
fluent was collected from the three-cycle.
0.6-cm irrigation than front the two-cycle.
(.6-cm tieatment.
Regardless (of the fertilizer rate, leach-
able nitrogen was dependent on the irriga-
tion xolume and the amount of container
leachate. Thus. findi ngs for the high and
low-fertilizer treatments were similar. Un-
der continous irrigation. ip to 63% of the
total applied nitrogen tertili/er xas leached
as nitrate-N. Nitrate-N loss xas reduced
I IC- xhen 1.3 cm of irrigation xas applied
in ccles. Nitrate-N leachine x was reduced
about 53xr when continous irrigcation xIf
rime xw'as reduced from I.3 cim to (.6 cm.
Nitrate-N loss xas reduced 29%x with (.6
cm cyclic irrigations.
Cxclic irrigation and irrication xolime
had no effect on the plant groxxth root
development. or overall quality ot the bolly
plants gron in the study.
The axerage irrigation applied at con-
tainer nurseries in Alabama is about 1.5 ci
per dav. Quality plants can be grown xxith
much smaller irrigcation xolumes. therebx
reducinc contaiier leachate. Irrigation ap-
plied in two or three cycles further reduces
leachate x olumes. With present water qmal-
ity coicernis in coitainer productioi. these
steps can be used as best management prac-
tices to reduce nitrogen loss fiom nurseries.
Fare. a former AU Research Associate. is an
Assistant Professor of Plant and Soil Science at
Tennessee Vechnolozical tni ersits . Gilliani and
Keeser are Professors ot Hoiticulture. Olive is
Superinteident of the Ornamenial Horticulture
Substation in Mobile.
Alabama A g'icultiunl Exilerinent Staion
1 "I
1 4 J l I J L l
fi~~al r Ig ~4bill*~~
j
- ~L*-~4j~
--
*'
K.C. Sanderson
CHEMICAL CHVWVCLTC' U"-'~l\
C itNrsanthciiums arc 
the second
most popular flowxerinig potted
pl ancts growni in Al abam a. in part
because they ofter a wide range (If colors.
[hat ppular ity may be boosted by a little
chemical macic that occurs xxhen a [cxx
growth re itarcdant is applied toI the plants.
The sour1ce (If this magic is ci mectacaIi h.
a chlemical dev elcoped as a turtgrass gr(Ixxth
retardanlt anld matrketect as Pri moT" by the
Ciba-Geigy company . It xxas tound 1(o
change the c(Il(r (Itcertain chrysanthemum
ciltixvars arid also i mprov e the olverallI ap-
pearanice of' the plants. AAES research is
explorinlg its applications foir the states
ornamnlital hortticultcit I ndcistry.
On chysanthetllcls. ci mectacarb oIrigi-
nial ly xxas tested as a groxxth regcilator.
Growxxetrs ecitmmon ly uise a chemical groxxth
recgut atr t 1( prodcuce a compact1 p1lant that is
pr oportionllyt sized 1(1 its polt. W hell
cimectacarb xxas applied toI chry sanithe-
mlums, it was nicccl that the chemrical
uniforml1)1y chIanre gethle cclo(r (It s(me ecilti-
vars. To learn miorc about this, a stcidy xxas
initiated to examline xxhich cuiltiv ars xxerc
alftected arid hoxx lthis niew chemical af-
tected both colo(r and cother cqcal ities (It
potted clhiysanthnlums.
In two years oIt testing. approximately a
dozen cliileert cultivsar s has c been treated.
Rootecd cuttitlgs It Lcinirdo, Red Delano.
Recdding, andc Regal Davis xxerc planlted
fourt pet six-inch pot conttaiin g txxo patis
sphagnctml peat moss. otne part vermnicci te.
onte palrt pcrlIite, andc onre part toIpsoilI by
(I lille oil Sept. 21I. Plants wer crc owxni in a
glass ho(use oIpcratecd it 62"F arid the dax
length was suipplemneniecd from 10 p.m. to 2
a.tm. ulsitng incatndescenlt ligcht cintil Sp.28.
Plants xxerc pinched xxhen newx growxth xxas
1-1.5 inchetes atid the roo(ts reached the hot-
toml (It the pot. Natutral short clays prov5icded
pho(tolperiocds for f lowx rinic. Petetrs Pealite
Special 20)-19-18 was applied to the media
cxvcry txxo weeks at the rate (If lxxo pounds
per 100 gallons. Wvhen budsxwere 0.25 inch
in diameter, the center bud on a shoot was
remos cd to infl1ucence Unilor m flowxer de-
v elopment and lecitiiation wxas stopped.
On Nov . 2. cimectacarb wxas applied to
the plants until runof t at rates of 150-600
parts per mill ion (ppm) wxith a loxw-pres-
sure, high x ol cime sprayer wxhen new shoots
we re 1-1 .5 inches long fol lowxing a pinch.
Cimcctacarb spray solutions are milky
white, making it easy to determine proper
coxverage. Sprays wxere allowxed to remain
on plants ox ci nght Plant height arid canopy
area wxere recorded wxheln one-third ot the
floxxers wxere open (Dec. 13-28).
The chemical appeared effective in
changing the color ot' lasverider and red
cultiv ars and acted as an eftectisve growth
retardant. Floxx r color oIt Regal Dav is. a
red-purple muim, xwas changed to a clear
pink. A pleasing bronze
xxas obtained from the
red mum Lucirido (see
figute). Colors obtained
xxithi treatment oIt Red
Del ano arid Reddinrg
were faded arid riot ac-
ceptable.
Generally, cimec-
tacarb sprays we re
mote etfectise as a re-
tardanit than the stan-
dard chry sanithemum
retardanlt. dam inoz)!ide or
13 nine
1 
M on all cultivars (see
table). Plant heights and canopy
. armeas of cimectacarb-treated
plants were less than nontreated
IlantS. xxith growsth retardation
inocreasting as cimectacarb rtes
increased. Height of Lucindo,
Redding. and Regal Davis
~p plants. aiid plant canopy area of
S Regal Davis plants tieated with
rronze. all rates ofl cimectacarh 
wxere
retarded more than the heights
and plant canopy areas of danminozide-
tireated plants.
No distortion or phy totoxic sy mptoms
has ebeen observ ed swith cimiectacarb sprays
on chrysanthemum. Howev er. high con-
centrations may reduce tlowxer size and
delay tiowering. Whi le control led tests hav e
not been conducted. cimectacarb does riot
appear to ads ersely afftect keeping qluality.
Research on cimectacarb is continun h.
How cimectacarb changes flower color is
not knowsn, but it may intertere wxith the
anthocy anin synthesis necessary for red-
purple color. Tests on other plants whose
marketability might be improv ed by addi-
tional colors are being conducted.
Cimectacarb may open the wary tor addi-
tional color-changing chemicals and awshole
niew array ol colors in plants.
Saders on is a Professor ot Horti ecilture.
PLAi Si It His XVti(550'I ARt L\ 0 SEt Ii I) (tnRswsrtt:xt Nt
0 I ItS kis SIRY \'( F rr Ii li ) 'AII/tII I ) (it C II (I a R
Ti eanti (ppm)
None
5.000 dain iozide
600 ciii clcai. rh
301 cinicctiacarh
1I50 cimcta~cairb
None
5.000 daiminozide'
600 cim11c lacarb
3001 Cc ic ,crh
150) c imec acarbh
('ultis ars
Lucindo Red Delano Redding Regal Davis
Planrt hetight (cm)
3(0 34 32 28
27 29 28 25
25 24 24 17
25 28 25 18
25 2 6 21
PlIant canopy area (tin
2
)
1.766 2.2941 2,040 1,663
1.414- 1.64_' 1,517 l.W6
1.0)68 1.436 1.2401 854
1.223 1.700( 1,218 1,175
1,229 1.768 1.370 1.315
Alabamia Agriculuiral Erpe rimnt .Station
E.C. Mora
POSSIBLE NEW WEAPON AGAINST AIDS AND
ANIMAL RETROVIRUSES DISCOVERED
I
4.*-
~1"
-4
**
Fiue lft.Eecrnmirgap fnomlmos etoirsi L20muielekma ellie nlre
by62.Figure (tefht). ElcrnMicrograph of ra s retrovirus cin after tramrne leukema cellac line4 EnArge
viral architecture has been altered. The outer shells and spikes are gone. The nucleic acid core is extruded
out. In some areas, only virus "ghosts" are left. Many viruses appear to swell during destruction.
Plants haxve been used for medicinal
purposes as f ai back as Genesis. but
cxx antixiral plant compouiids haxve
cx er been isolated. A loiie-terim AA[ S in-
vestigcat ion has di scoxered a plant extract
that deSti o'vx retox roses, a f inding xxith
poissibly majot importane to lixvestock ii-
dlustrics aiid the xwar on AlIDS.
Thei AU Pool try Science Depairtment
has Scr cened plant coilpounds fornnimire
thaii 25 Yeairs, and only antibacterial, anti-
I noaL. and antipai asitie compounds xxere
isolated. I-Ioxx cxci. in cailIN I993J,onc mite-
rial, desi-nated "MLH-4," was found toi
destroy xi roses that cause iiouse leukemia.
~Tese x iruses belong to the retrox mus gron p.
xxhichi also includes the AlIDS x irus, H IV.
Th le aiitix iral plant extract xxas'submit-
ted to the National InStitutes of Health
(NilIH) for cx aluation as a possible coiii
pouiind usable for the coiitrol of AID)S. The
NIIH Nat ioinal Cancer Iiistitute confirmed
ini tests last yeai and eairliei this vcai that
Nil H-4 is moderately effectix iii coiitiol-
lini H IV o nder Ilaboriatory coiidit ions.
NI H tests thousands oh compounds cacti
year wxithi its AlIDS antixviral screen. The
niati oiialI laboratory's drug discovery pro-
Oram has thus fao fouiid I1,038 of these
compouinds to be "actix c and I1.365 to be
"moderatel N actixve.' the category ini wxhichi
Ml II 4 xxas placed. Althiough NIII does
not plain to pe rforni second ary icesearch on
MILH-4. the acenex K DineI Syntthesis and
Chiemi stry Branch requested add itioiial in-
formtiton oni the extract \x lien its ceicial
structure is fullI defiiicd.
Reti ox roses cause caiicers and othei
seriouis diseases in mianx animiial s and ho-
iians. Ini humans, the irctrox irux H IV crc-
ates tumiors iin antibody-pioduciiig xxhlte
blood cells. thus daiiacinc the immune
Systeii. Ili poultiry, they cause xvarious fornis
of eanierci ostiiig producers iiillioiis of
dollars a y ear. MILH-4 could beiietfit the
animal inidostx as well as the xxar oii
AIDS.
Usiiic leukeiiia mouse cell cultures aiid
electroin microscopy . the Auburii lab deter-
oninedl that NMLIH-4 first deiiatured the outei
xtte i of the ret roxirS ii . nak iii it nioin-i
feetious. The material betxxeen the (iuter
env elope and the core wxas xxeakeiied aiid
broke apart. Thiis cond ition iniduced aii
emipty ing of most of the x irux' iiiteriial
coiiteints. iesoltiiic in total x irus dextrue-
tioii. Visualization of retox irux destruction
wxith the electron microscope wkas very im-
portanit; this is the tirst time it has beeti
As of this point, thetre is ircal ly no effec-
tive treatmeiit for AlIDS. The main coin
pound iiox used is AZT, xxhichi has ques-
tionable results. A/T xxo(rks bx inhibiting
the chemiceal process
through xwhichi HIV at-
taches to"x bite bloods celxI.
It sl oxxthe inifect ion somi-
what. but the xirus is Still
aiixe andu able toI spread.
M'LH 4 senms effectixe at
destroyi ng retox roSes ui
that they cannot ireplicate.
Further reseatc elwxill he
conducted to pui sue dcxci-
opment of MIIH-4 for to-
ture human and animal uSe.
Oiice the chemical Structure (if the coin
pounid has beeii iiapped out, it xxill be
submitted for pateiitiiig. Because of' thle
necessary coolfidenitiality slit ouiidiiicI
patent applicatiomi. the nature of the plant
that N ielded MILH-4 canimot be described
here.
The procedurei for I ocat iii Su c h plants
basicallIN i nxolvxes obserxving hoxw a plant
cmxx s. Specifically,. does it grIox\ iii aii area
alomie, xxith no other planits? Sonic plants
iiihibit the gi oxx ti of othei plants. Does it
appeai to be resistanit to disease What is
the duration of the plant's life.' And, is the
plaiit ham mless to hiumnms aiid animals:'
Oxver a long-term process, likely plaiits are
critically ev alated to deteirmine xxhlethier
their chemical coiipoineits arc elffecti xc ini
coiit ro ll inig paithogeniis.
AU poultry science researchers hiaxe
dexveloped sexvcrab xiiral and bacterial x ac-
cines I orchiceis. achiexvemeiits that played
a iiajor role iin the dcxvelopmenit oif the
pouiltry iniduSty ini the Southeast. The dis-
coxvciv of MLH-4 coiitiiiues AAES' coiii
iiitiieiit to adx ancimi liv estock iiidustries,
and it illustrates the fact that agricultural
research often has iiajoir i mipacts on human
health as wxell.
Mora is a Professor oif MIicrohiology in the De-
partiment of Poultry Science.
Alabama Agricultuiral E. perilnent ,Station
40
DROP APPLICATOR DEVELOPED
FOR POULTRY LITTER
AES research has been concen-
ti atinc on finding ness. ens iron-
nmentalls safe ws to utilize pool-
iry lit tei . a bypiroduct of the South's thris-
ing p~oultry industry . Until recently, douing
that iresearch irequi red hand-apply i nu the
littei to ireseaich plots because ino equip-
nent 'Aas as ailable that could properly and
easily apply the litter. NowA a spreadei has
been desveloped that facilitatesiresear-ch 'Aith
organic solid 'Aastes and may alsot has e
commercial appl icatins.
The consistency of poultry litter and
othei organ ic 'Aastes is less in if orm than
that of manufactured icirtilizers. so cons en-
tional application equipmeint cannot apply
these products at conltrolled, unifoirm rates.
H and-applying litter to research plots is
laboi intensis e, and rates are dif'fieti4 to
iionitoi . ho address this pioblem, an AAES
project swas i nitiated to des elofp a drop
appl icatoi to spread l itter.
D~esigin criteria for this applicator in-
eluded: an applicatiiii irate of at least two
tons per acre: litter applied in a swAathi ap-
poinatelv six feet 'Aide: a hopper capac-
ity of appirox imately one ton of poultrs
litter : and the equipment mlust be tractor-
tiotiiied to iincrease maneus iabhility.
A\hoppeirssith sides sloping inwsaid to an
opening of approximatei~v one foot across
at the bottom gas e the required s olume
based on typical bulk dlensity s aloes f or
poultiy litter. The choice of hopper eapac-
its and confictiration wsas based in part oin
load transfer considerations for mtaking the
unit tractoi-mounted.
Meteimi u poultry litter ouit of the hopper
ini a uinifoirmi swath prosed to be more of a
chal leiige than expected. Gras ity flowA 'Aith
an agitatoi to imeter litter out orta gate at the
back of tihe hoppei was first tried. With this
arrangenlent, larger gate openi ncS caused
littei to fIowA freely, 'Aithi no meterinc effect
froinmi thie agitator, and smaller gate ope i-
iluts caused the l itter to become packed into
the bottoit of the hopper, blocking flitiw
completely.
The dro p applieato w1ssas then mod if ied
by closing the cate at the back oft the top-
pci. openiitg up the bottom. aitd imountinc
a pl atfI mrm 'Aitht a Ii (oi eha it lootped arouiind
it under tile openintg. The floor chain 'Aas
possered hsdiratilicaills w Aith the applica-
tion rate contiolleul by adjusting the speed
of the hiydr auhic motor. ]"his inew ariaine-
iment did a satisfatctory job ofn metering out
littei iin a uniform layer across a swAath
appiroxinmately 5.5 feet sside, but tests inidi-
e ated thfat thle application rate flu ct uated
cyc licalis ill the diiectioit ott travel due to
tile act ion (of chain flights.
The oiiinal floor chain coimesvor 'Aas
made from11 cross bars spaced eight inches
apairt. Each timell oine of these bars passed
os et the edge of the platfoirim, the flowA of
litter droppiing off the platform tio the
grou nd stopped imomenltari ly . The resuilt
inc2 fiuct tiatittni appeared i neon seq uenit ial
as the imachiine
'Aas obsers ed. buit
it sicitificatli
reduced applica-
tioin rate for a dis-
tanice oif seseiral
feet beeauise of - -_
the tractontis
speed. Sevseral
different arraiice-
imenits oif chain
fNicits ssere
probleni persisted.
ous-type eon-
rangcment 
all AAES drop 
FapplicatorI
ltowAed the litter to solid wastes.
J.H. Wilhoit, J.S. Bannon, and 0. Ling
be applied at conlsistent rates 'Aith good
nnf 101mit\ both across the swsath and in the
direction of traveli.
The drop applicator has nowA been used
sticcessflll\ foi two seasonls w~ith pouiltry
litter research. It also has been used witoh
wood chips. and it Should pirove Satisf ac-
try f oi spread ing other si milar or gan ic
Solid s\ aste imati als. It pros ides the 
uni-
tori ts and control reqtiired for carcfully
conducted research field studies and al los
more extensive field iresearch oft this ty pe.
The cost-etfectisve and ensviroinmental ly
sound utilization ol orgaame solid 'Aastes is
one of the foreiiost Llhalleiices faciiig agi-
culture and society todas . s0 the iresearch
capability that this machine pros ides wsill
be increasi ngl 5 important. The lessons
learnied ini dev eloping this prototy pe also
may help guide the design and devselop-
ment of equipmteint foi more production-
oriented Situations. If equipment for efl-
cicntly and on iform ly Spreading these ma-
terials can be des eloped, the markets for
utilizing organic solid wastes for turf,. land-
scapinig c oi other similar purposes can be
greatly expanded.
W'llunit is ani A\ssistant Professor and Linnt is a
Graduaite Research Assistant in Agiultural Fn-i
cineering. Bannon is Direcior of the E.\. Smith
Reseairch Center.
for spreading chicken litter and other organic
Alabama Agi-icultut-al Evl) r-iment Station
-7
4 ,g
Strips of vegetation reduce poilutant con-
centrations in wastewater runoff.
A t tl wxaxte nmanagement la oonx
can p~roduice elffluenti that posxes
xerioux enx ironmental thieat.
AAES rexeaich indicates that vegetative
filter xtripx ( VFS) can help manage thix
problem.
VMIS's ate stri ps of xvegetation planted
next to agronom ic prioduction areas to) con-
rol I rosxion or located ad jaceniit to animal
product ion f aci lities to control wastewxater
runof I. The one-x ear xtudx ex aluated the
el lectix enexx of thexe xtrips in treating xxaxte.
Wastewxater wxax applied to 8X20- foot
plotx of bermudagraxx adjoining the AAES
Swxinc Nuti ition Unit in Auburn. Six inchex
of effluent were applied wxeekly to plots
sloped at 5 and I I/ . This rate is desig~ned
by the U.S. Soil Cionservxation Service to
supply ample wastewater to cover the dis-
posal area, but produce little or no runoft.
Backgr ound xamplex of xxater seeping
through the xoil ( xoilI petrcolate) w xere col-
lected at three depthx (one, three, and tive
feet ) for six monthx before xxastexxater ap-
plication. Runoff and soilI percolate xamplex
xxece collected lot xev en monthx alter the
initial application. Surface runoft xamples
were collected in atuge p~lastic barrels. Soil
percolate xamplex were collected monthly
frtom xoilI lyxi meterx instal led at the three
p~reviotusly mentioned depthx. All samples
xxere analy ied for signlx (f polluion (sxee
tablex). Runol I data in Table I are baxed on
f oui and 21 I amplex taken on the 5(4r and
I ]'( lope', i expect i x'l ' during the 30)
vxreekx of xxaxte application. The small num-
her of samples indicates that the VFS'sx
wx re control ling runoft x olume.
A lewx increases in nitrate and phosphate
concentrations xxere due to bu ild up ol these
compounds on the application xurface of
the 1I% s lope anld xiubsequent remov al by
the water floxx down i the plot area. All
groundwxater parameters. except nitr ate,
were reduced at the fixve-loot sampling depth
for the Ii /c slope (Table 2). These reduc-
tions indicate that the compounds were
remoxved ax xxater flowxed dowxn through the
soilI. The nitrate increase is due to the con-
v ersion of total niitrogen.
The 5%4 slope dis-
played a much more ~
v ariable performance. Pil XIiEi Hi
This reflects the slowxer
movement 
of water 
amer lit
dowxn the reduced slope,
as wecll as soil-related K 61
dilferences in 
the infil- 
I K\z--N 10-
tration rates. The 5( ( ON-N
plots wxeie 
on Marxyn 
Nt)D N 
Io
loamy sand, xwhereas the 
Ti
1 
P 2
11 l plotx wxere on KptatrnIi
Pacolet sandy loam. ON-N =organic 
nit
Soil pcircol ate nitrate pioxphate.
inOlutent is the non
at the fixve-toot depth in- tecatixe 
percen
creased ap--
proximately rusiii 2. St NI'IAR iHO( 
I
PVll,~iii IN P L)SIxii I
sev en timex
on the 5%~ Parameter II Sb
slope plotxs 0.' 
37ft.
and more than K 42 4t
3.5 timex on T KN-N (0.
3
)01.2 (i11(
the I l% slope NH,-N (Oi)0. 
(0.1)i
NO-N (4M)i74.5 (139)
ploix. These ON-N (0.3)0 
(I.0)
high nitrate COD (39.8) 54.0 (26.9)
TP-P 0.141. (0.1).
co0n ce ntria-
tions on both 'K =potastittt, T KN-N 
=tot,
orgatnit nit tioen: COi = che t
slopes haxve 'Background 
data w~ere gather
the possibility iDeptht ot lysxtntter placemet
of causing seriouix problemsx in groundwxa-
ter contatmination.
VES' x reduced x olume of irunoff and
concentration ofl imeaxiired paramneters, ex-
cept for nitrate and phoxphorus oti the 1I I7
xlope. Increased concentrations of nitrate
wxere noted at the fixve-foot xoil profile lex el
for both I I% and 5 / slopes, representing a
potentil f Ioi grou ndxx ate r pollIut ion and in-
dicaiing a need to reduce application xvol-
ume foi thexe xoil ty pex.
Hill is an Alumni Professor and Rochester is an
Associaie Protexsot o1 Agrteultural Engineetitue
H awiki ns i i the Al ahatna IDepartmeit of
En x\ iron ie ntal MIan agemntt. Wiood ts att Aluitt
Associate Protexsor of Agrionotmy and Sils.
Ni Oii Ax iv HN i:R~ COxCEN NI RAI ION 15tcii, a i Ciii xCI. x
6IN, rt I ENI Un Ri NOUFl NIi Ii PLR~~i W i Ii i iii
uelt- ii9r Slope 5 4 Slope
Ru not) 9 Reduc tion' Rn nol " Redutttion
0 57.) 5 71.8 -9
32 69.5 33 l100.1 3
.6 64)1 33 94.6 1
8.0 5.5 31 5.5 31
7 158 -829 0)9 47
.6 176.8 14) 99.6 5
75 30.1 -9 20.8 24
KNN N total nittrogett: NH,- N amntonia. NO,-N =itttrate.
rogen: COD =ehenmicai oxy getn dettand: atnd 'i P-P i otai
treated wxaxte xxaier applited to the fitel ds.
tredutiot n re prese nts an incriease in thisx parameter.
HEi Axi Hui tN iOC: NIRii 1 x1i,% 01i (Iii xAIit,
HR SaItiti (BW(KiHiiini 1):5'- xis P xRiN iiixII)"
pe 51/ Slope
5 ft. 1 ft. 3 ft. 5 ft.
.4
).4
4.7
9
13.5
(0l.2) 01
11111
8.7) 312
(0.9))0.)
(33.5) 12.8
(0.)0.1)
43.9
(i1.0) 3.4
(0.1)73.2
(8.7) 75.8
i(0.91112
(77.5i 45.1
il.1) 4.8
35.1
111.2) 7.4
(01)1
(7.8)~ 6.
(01) I0.37
(34.5)1. 7
(0.1)0.1I
28.0
(0.1)i 1.6
(0) 11.2
17.4i 55.4
(11)112
(28.3) 23.5
(0 )0
II nittrogen: NH,-N =ammtonit: NO,-N =nitttate: ON-N
ica) oxx gen detnand: and iP P total phoxphaite.
ed lot xix months befote appliction of xxastexi atet
Alaobama A tiri(Iflttfal L tI)CifienI .Station
D.T. Hill, G.L. Hawkins, E.W. Rochester, and C.W. Wood
FILTER STRIPS HELP MANAGE
WASTE LAGOON EFFLUENTa K; 
_
D.A. Oswalt, J.J. DeMark, E.P. Benson, A.G. Appel
NEW BAIT PROVES EFFECTIVE
I'T CNTR Il vrIe TFRMT TFS
Stt
most damaging in-
sects in the ii bain
envirolment, can
infest buildings and
destroy structuial
timbeis. AAES re-
searchers hase
tested a ness
I)o Flanco termite
bait product that
could one day rc-
duce or possibly ic
place the extensis
Sentricon' bait stations could one day replace
liquid insecticide barriers in termite control.
use (if liquid pesticides to control termites.
TIermite control is now mainly accom-
plished by placing a continuous barrier ot
IiquidI i nsecticide in the soil between the
structute and surrounding ensironment. An
avcrage-szed home may require mote than
2() gallons of spray. Uniform chemical
barriers ef fectixely keep termites from en-
tering structures, bitt the term ite colonies
remain in the nearhb ens itonment. If the
barrier is not utniform. tetrmies may enter
striuctures through the treatment gaps.
A hait station recently dcveloped by
Doss I lanico contains the chitin synthesis
inhibitor hexaf luuon. 'hich kills ter-
mites by inhibiting the molting process.
He\af lumuron-uteated 'ood is applied in a
cylindrical bait station that is placed in the
ground. AAES rescarch has shown that the
new piduct. Sentricon', is effectixe in
elimintating subterranean tetrmite colonies.
To evaluate the effectixeness of
Sentricon, woodetn grade stakes were placed
around the perimeter ol Estenision Hall on
the Aubuirn camupus to find termite colo-
nies. Researchers found that one colony
had been actively foraging within the build-
ing for more than 15 years.
Stakes wseie
hccked monthl
,tarting in April
1993. When a ter-
mite infested
stake 'as found.
the ar ea around it
ss as excavated.
and a bottomless.
plastic one-gal-
Ion bucket 'as
placed in the
Lround. A pre-
weighed, moist
block of wood
xxas placed in the
bucket to sert x as a food source. Termites
from the infested stake were placed on the
block to recruit other termites. Blocks ftom
these stations wxere replaced monthly. In
the laboratory. infested blocks were cleaned
of all termites and debris, completely dried
in an oxen, and then xeighed to determine
monthly consumption by the termites.
The termite foraging area and colony
size was determined by using a "triple-
matrk-recapture" method. ilter paper satu-
rated 'ith a blue dye solution' was placed in
a petri dish
'Aith termites
collected fron
Extensio n
Hall. Aftei
three days of
feeding on the
dye-saturated
paper. the blue
termites werc
returned to
their original
stations. By
measuring the
area enclosed
by traps coil
Blocks attacked within territc
lain ing blue termites, researchers found
that this colony of Eastern subterranean
teimites. Reticuliermes Io 'ioes. was for-
aging in a 8()square-foot area. Colony
si/e was estimated at 75.362 insects. Wood
consumption was about half a grain per
da. or approximately four inches of a 2X4
board per year.
Sentricon prototypes were placed near
the bucket monitoring stations. Sentricon
stations first hold wooden monitoring de-
vices designed to detect randomly foraging
termites. This dcx ice is replaced wAith tubes
containing hexaflumuron bait once termites
are found in the stations. Stations 'ere
placed in the ground in May 1993 and
checked monthly for termite infestation.
The colony was baited with hexaflumuron
in August. September, and November 1993.
In January 1994. the hait in the Sentricon
stations xsas ieplaced 'ith the 'Aooden
monitorin" devices. Sentricon and bucket
stations 'ere monitored monthly. No teIr
mites haxe been found in the Sentricon or
plastic bucket stations through August 1994.
The colony is considered eliminated.
Termite baits are a neA technologs that
'A ill become useful as a tool to help pies ent
or control termite infestations. Baits are not
currently a replacement for existing bartrier
control tactics. but may hecome the pri
marx termite control method of the future.
Oswalt is a Masters Candidate and Appel is an
Associate Professor in Entomology. DeMark and
Benson are TS&D Specialists wsith Do Elanco.
ory Wood consumption, g/trap.day
Wood consumption
(g/trapld)
Blocks
attacked
, Baits
applied
I I I
May July
-1.5
-1.25
-1
-0.75
-0.5
-0.25
Now. Jan. Mar. May
After bait stations were applied in September, October, and November
1993, no signs of wood consumption or infested monitoring stations were
located.
Alabamai Aricultral EILxperitnent Stition
C.A. Flood, J .L. Koon, R.D. Trumbull, and R.N. Brewer
CEILING FANS REDUCE TOTAL ENERGY
USE IN BROILER PRODUCTION
Alabama broiler producers must
heat chicken houses for 10-28
days so that young birds can main-
tain body temperature and efficiently con-
vert feed to meat. AAES research indicates
that producers can provide the proper grow-
ing environment at a lower cost by install-
ing ceiling fans.
Warm air rises naturally and is replaced
by cooler air. Unless air is artificially circu-
lated, temperatures at the ceiling are higher
than temperatures near the floor. Thus, heat
in the warmest air is not available to birds
and additional heat must be supplied. Most
heat loss while brooders are being used is
through conduction from warmer air near
ceilings and walls to cooler air outside the
house. This temperature difference and the
resulting heat loss is reduced by decreasing
air temperature near the ceiling. Ceiling
fans effectively circulate air and reduce
temperatures near the ceiling.
To evaluate the effectiveness and
affordability of using ceiling fans, a series
of cool-weather tests was conducted at the
AAES Poultry Research Unit. Tests were
conducted in two divided commercial-type
TABLE 1. ENERGY USE IN ROOMS EQUIPPED WITH
CEILING FANS EXPRESSED AS A PERCENTAGE OF
ENERGY USED IN ROOMS WITH NO FANS
Start
1  
Ceiling fan energy use
2
Electricity Gas Total energy
6 105.3 93.6 95.1
6 102.9 75.5 79.1
11 102.5 88.1 89.5
11 103.3 88.4 89.4
71 92.8 90.6 91.0
71 100.4 93.3 94.4
88 114.1 79.4 84.2
88 117.7 75.5 81.8
216 111.6 64.9 91.1
216 110.5 210.8 153.6
295 103.1 129.2 124.4
295 106.7 75.0 80.4
Total 105.5 89.3 91.7
'Calendar day on which each trial was initiated.
2
Energy use is expressed as a percentage of energy
used in rooms with no fans (i.e. 105.3% electricity
use means that the ceiling fan room used 5.3% more
than the no-fan room.)
broiler houses with 40X65-foot growout
rooms. Each room was equipped with two
8400-scfm ventilation fans controlled by
both a thermostat and a percentage timer.
Ventillation unit run time and usage of
electricity and natural gas were measured
for each room. Temperatures were moni-
tored at various points from floor to ceiling
along the centerline of each room.
In two tests, all four growout rooms
were equipped with four conventional pan-
cake-type gas brooders rated at 30,000 Btu
per hour each. In four other tests, two rooms
were converted to single forced-air, direct-
fired furnaces rated at 168,000 Btu per hour
each. Previous research revealed no sig-
nificant differences in energy consumption
between the two types of brooders.
Two of four rooms were each equipped
with two ceiling fans designed for agricul-
tural use. Fans were installed along the
centerline of rooms a quarter of the distance
from each end. Fans were operated at 85
rpm, which was sufficient to eliminate ceil-
ing temperature gradients without creating
measurable air velocities at bird level.
Results indicate that ceiling fans can be
expected to increase total yearly electrical
energy use by about 5.5%, decrease gas
TABLE 2. PARTITION OF ENERGY USE BETWEEN
ELECTRICITY AND GAS FOR ROOMS EQUIPPED
WITH CEILING FANS AND ROOMS USING NO FANS
Start' Energy partition (pct.)
Ceiling fan No-fan
Electricity Gas Electricity Gas
6 14.7 85.3 13.3 86.7
6 16.8 83.2 12.9 87.1
11 11.1 88.9 9.7 90.3
11 8.2 91.8 7.1 92.9
71 18.8 81.2 18.4 81.6
71 17.7 82.3 16.6 83.4
88 18.8 81.2 13.9 86.1
88 21.7 78.3 15.1 84.9
216 68.7 31.3 56.1 43.9
216 41.0 59.0 57.0 43.0
295 15.3 84.7 18.4 81.6
295 22.7 77.3 17.1 82.9
Total 17.3 82.7 15.0 85.0
'Calendar day on which each trial was initiated.
use by about 10.7%, and reduce total yearly
energy use by about 8.3% (Table 1). Esti-
mates of energy costs are not presented
because they are directly dependent upon
gas and electricity prices. Since prices paid
by a particular farmer depend upon location
and many other factors, these costs are
quite variable.
In general, electricity accounted for a
higher percentage of total energy consump-
tion in houses with ceiling fans (Table 2).
Gas and electricity consumption were nearly
equal in tests started on calendar day 216,
when outside temperatures were close to
the desired inside temperature.
The average inside temperature for
rooms with ceiling fans was 0.35?F less
than rooms without ceiling fans. This find-
ing indicates that lower fuel usage in ceil-
ing fan rooms was not due to lower indoor-
outdoor temperature differences.
Ventillation units ran slightly longer in
rooms without ceiling fans. This factor
accounts for a small portion of the greater
gas use in the room with no ceiling fan.
In rooms with ceiling fans, the typical
range of difference in temperature from
floor to ceiling was 0-1.8?F. Without fans,
the typical range was 3.5-5.5
0
F. This higher
temperature gradient between ceiling
and outside air in rooms with no ceil-
ing fans accounts for some of the addi-
tional fuel required in these rooms.
In summary, the use of ceiling
fans in broiler houses reduces total
energy consumption without impact-
ing bird performance as measured by
market weight. Birds in rooms with
ceiling fans averaged 5.36 pounds,
while those in rooms without fans av-
eraged 5.34 pounds.
Flood and Koon are Associate Professors
and Trumbull is a former Research Associ-
ate in Agricultural Engineering. Brewer is
Department Head and Professor of Poultry
Science.
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
Ltla
nr
i
14
D.L. Rankins, Jr., S.E. Peacock, and J.T. Eason
SPECIAL DIETS BOOST GROWTH
OF STOCKER CALVES
I i rc. I i i Iid, I xE r purchl~~lased roti sale harnfs dur-i
ing the fall and ted or Lraucd
throughouit the wxinter as stocker cattle to
sell in the spr ing. Oftten these calxves lose
wxeight or make sloxw gains durngn the fi rst
mon11th at ter pinrchase. hut AAI:S research
i ndicates that f eedi ng them specially f or-
mu lated cliets can proxvide a boost ingcrowXth.
Most calx Cs puirchased at sales are newxly
we aned and hax e encountered numerous
stresst ni exvents (shipping. v accination,
separation fronm nmother etc.) one to two
wxeeks prioi to pur chase. Careful dietary
iiiamii cmient duriing the first 28 daxys is vital
for reduciuc sickness and death. Sexveral
comnietcial icceix ingdiets torx Icng calxes
and sex eral options tor on-farm mixinc are
axvailable to producers. A Study wxas Con-
ducted at the Sand Mountain Substation in
('rossxille to C\ alnate tour leceix inc( diets
for inew~ly purchased calx Cs.
Ninety-six calxes (average wxicht 300
poudics were pcirchascd in Nox ciiber 19c93
from o(cat sto(c k y ardcs and trailsported tio
the Substation that cx eninc. Halt (I the
calxvCs xx cie puirchasecd on Novx. I and the
other hlf on Novx. 8. Calvxes xx ce assi ciid
to (Ife (It filcr receiving diets I () ciliiiiir-
cial pellets. Mastei Mix 
xi StIcsslfichterrxt
II: (2) 37 / cracked co~rn, 30(% grolund at-
Seed hulls, t ~
bean meal and AS-
7
001"~ Dyna-Kra.
salt. anid mninerals: (3)
diet 2 wxith 6% mo-(
lasses added: and (4)
diet 2 wxith 01.5 pound '
(If D~iamonlli 
V I x
yeast cilture added
perhead perday. The
commecCitl petllet,
contai ned at leasd
1 2%/ crude pirotein.
and the othei thiree
diets containe~d14
protein. The diets
wxere offered txxicc
daily . For the first sex n dais each penI ot
catlves also xwas offired 50 pouinds ot
bernicdagrass hay (approximatelyvexcn
pouiids per day). all
caine i more1(1 than
o~f xxhichi xxas con-
Scimed.
All diets pro-
vicded excellent re-
sults. Calx Cs con-
suiiied trolm 8.6 tol
9. poucnds (If dry
matter pei day dur-
inc the first xxeck.
wxhich is eqjuixvalent
toIapproximiately 3%
(of body xweig-ht. Nil
diffeeccs wecrc
detected betwe en
niales and females.
For the centire 28-
clay trial, the calxves
rec pounds per day
xxhi Iccnsuintg 1(0.7 tol 11.1 p(Iunics (If
teed. This rcsultedl in 3.1I toI 3.7 pouinds (It
teed per piluntd (It gain (see table).
Usinc fall 1993 teed prices, the co~st per
pclundt if gain wxas appiroximately 3(0 ccnts
fo~r thc three on-f arm diets and 40 cents tfor
the commcrcial petllets. Animal pcrfor-
mancc wxas not sigtifticantly differcnt (In
[lix ulthed~ict I lie
only tmajor dliffer-
e~nce xxas in cost pet
poundt oif gain and.
t ot ax ailtable, 
the
a dditional S45 
per
ton may be accept-
ibhle for hax inc- the
Conxvenieiice (It a
pellcted. bacced
Ot the 48 calxves
/ puirchased oIl Nox.
1six, shoxxd clSicLis
4f :..\hippinig texer
drinc the tir-st Wxeek
aiiid icceixed ain in-
jectionl ot NaxclxiThe scond groutp of
48 calx es exhibited more sickness, and all
calx Cs wxere civeni txwo( injections (Itpenicil-
tin and xvitamin B 12 the tir1st xxeek onl test. Ini
addition, 101 calxves receix ed Naxcel I xt
Nexxly purchased and tranisported calxvcs
usually consume only 0.5-1.5'7 oft their
body weight per day dciring the fir~st (Ine to
two (1xxeeks on feed. In this trial. calxves
consumt~ed more thaii 3(1 (It body wxeight
dailx for the entire 2-8 daxvs. This is probably
attribcitablc to good fCecl buiik mnanagemett
and immediate trcatment ot sick ani mats.
All focirdiets proxvicdecd eonomical cains
in thcse light xx cicht calxves ceiin thocigh
the diets cost $s160 to 8210 per tonl. The
reason is that this type olf call is xvery etffi-
cient at conxverting teed to body protein
wxhen sickiiess has beeii eliminated. There-
fore. feecdiiig diets dcsigiiec specifically foi
receixvinc, calx es is wel cwtxxr1th the extira leeh
cost. With a giocd dietary maniagemlent and
health program. ncxxly receivxedc calxves can
galin rapidly dciri ng the f irst 28 days. rathei
tha uinngslowxxly or losing wxeight.
Ranki us is an Associate [I (tcssllr oI Annil
andii Da[irs Sciciice,. Peacock is a1 tIrscltlan aiid
Eaisonl is Supeinitendent ot the Sand Mocintain
Sucib sltion.
Alaubama Ai-ic Iul-l Exh epitent ,Stalinm
Fo-imu Co o. i110 151)i H us ) o( Ci u.l, Fi 0 Ri ii m
ComnmelciaiO l Ot Ot -,- 111)11OF ,i.s 01- O+x cast cuIlture
lb~u hl,,i lb lb./I'do Ild ,ln
W\eek 1 9.1) 9.1 8.8 8.6
Week 2 9.5 9.5 10.1 10.4
ecekl 11.1 1141 11.6 11.9
xxeek4- 13.8 1-.9 13.8 12.8
Avg.10.8 10.7 11.1 10.9
\t)G 1.11 .11 3.100 3(02
teed cgiin 3147 1.1 4 3.7(1 3.61
tFeed co)st pei poun d galined wxas C[ommeicial = 40) cents OF =28 c ents:
J.A. Mosjidis, C.M. Owsley, M.S. Kirkland, D.M. Ball, and K.M. Rogers
AU GROUNDCOVER:
NEW CALEY PEA
T cro piroduct~ion is nting flc\\ to
the Southeast, but many producers
aiec \prcssing renewed interest in using
leguimes in place of commercial fertilIizers
to reduce production costs and protect the
envi ronment. L egume options will soon he
expan~ded by the release of a new~ commner-
cial caley pea cultix ar AU GrouindCov er.
AA1FS and Soil Conserv ation Service
(SCS) researchers dev eloped AU
GroundCover, which will be available for
the 1995 tallI planting season. Although
caley pea has heen used for years as a
livestock forage and cox ercrop in the South-
east, no comimercial cultix ars haxve been
available. The only commercial sour cc of
seed has commonly been a mixture of x etch
and caley pea.
Caley pea-also ealled w~ild winter pea,
singletary pea. or rough pea is a cool-
season annual legume initroduced from the
Meditei tanean. Reseatrch has shown i that
forwage yields in joh nsongrass and dalIi sgi ass
hayfields increase more v ith caley pea than
w~ith any other cool-season legume. and
forage production season is lengthened
xwhen forages are groxwn in conljuniction
xwith this legu me. Caley pea also is valuable
as silage, atenlporar\ ground coxver a ereen
manure crop on land to be replanted in in J
to late spring, and a source (of tood i
wildlife.
Calcy pea girows xvellI on the heaxvy cla
Soils of, the lowsei Mississippi Dcelta and on
calcaicous clay soils of the Alabama and
Mississippi Black Belt regions, where it is
we ll adapted and readily i eseeds. The calcy
pea's hatrd seed coat al lowss natuiral reseed-
nrw xxhen stands are not heax il earaed
before the seed production peiriod. Caley
pea can be successfully groxwn in areas too
wet or too cal careou s for most an nualI clo-
ic 1)u1 , ,l' I ou i J
ot mildly acidic soils.
Dexvelopment of At'
Ground~oxer began in
1983 when a collection of
caley pea and other le-
gume cover crops was as-
sembled at the SCS
Americus Plant Material
Center in Georgia for ii
tial screening exaluations. 
AU Gro
Selected ecotypes. or lo-
calized plant types. were tested for forage
yield, maturity, canopy height. composi-
tion. and diseases beginning in 1989. These
tests xwere conduicted in Americus and at
AAES research Lunits in Winfield. Belle
Mi na. Marion Junction, lal lassee. and
Monroexville.
The AU GroundCover cultixvar was de-
veloped from these selections and exvalu-
ated. During these evaluations. AU
GroundCox er x ielded as much forage as
commereial hairy xetch (see table) and per-
formed xwell in clipping trials at each loca-
tion. AU GroundCoxver has a crude protein
content (ot about 20% at flowering time and
flowsers at about the same time as hairx
vetch. 'ihe plants hax e purplish flossems.
U -,
U
ur
jf light green foliage, and
) / dev elop canopies nearly
/ // (0 inches tall at flowser-
/ ing time.
Studies indicate that
initial girowsth is sloss un-
III late winter, when rapid
,rowth begins. The re-
sults also show that scari
fidse houl be used
ndCover to initially establi 
sh
stands.
The dex elopment of this news cultixvar
may be a boon for producers who are using
legumes to boost production, reduce costs.
and protect the ens ironment.
Mostidis is an Associate Professor and Ball is a
Protfessor oft A-rononix and Soils. Oxx Ic s and
Kitrkland are Manager and Assistant NIanaget,
respectively, of the SCS Aimericus Plant Materi-
als Center. Rogers is an S CS Agronomist based in
Alabama.
krv) r 1-t Ittlo _ Xl, r~ of 11-1)0 Git (010 5110
ssn t I\tI moitt HouI VI- Hi a i SIX
too A1IiONS IN 1992 AND) 1993
E ntry
LAU GroundCos er
ttairy \setch
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
AUBURN UNIVERSITY, ALABAMA 36849-5403
Lowelt T. Frobish. Director
POSTMASTER-Address Correction Requested
Lb./u.
3.169
3.748
Lb6./n.
3.159
2.937
NON-PROFIT ORG.
PO STA GE & FE ES PAID
PERMIT NO. 9
AUBURN, ALA.