o4 F, N - 4 ~4t 4 JF i-. ddLIP 11 "4 1} I i ssue Delayed Planting May Help Corn Growxth Matnagement Key to Controlling Blackspot Disease in Roses______________________ Recreational Fishing is Bi(, Business in Alahai Rcduce Risk of Beet Arm\ worms: Fertilize according to Soil Test ,h Feed Pices in 1996 Will Affect Feeding itegies tor Cattish Farmers nations on a Green... Finding the Right rmudagrass for Alahama Putting Greens 'tility and Fumigation Poul1try Litter L ooks Promiising in Surface Mul L and Reclamation __________________ Comparison of Cadre and Starfire-based Weed] Control Systems in Peanuts v\er Queen May No Longer Be the Ruling > x et Corn Variety Retail Pork Products Often Contain Meats )~ther Than Pork _________________ ON THE C OVER: Putting greens on the Robicri anuotses, like the Ci and National, are knms it orthei icy putting greens and lush fairway s. See related 12. this 1 99 6 V o 1 u mn e 4 3 N u in b e r Av, AiR~ Iii i v lixi i i rS io\ tOFLT F5 iIiROBISH ............. Directoti DAVID H. TiEM ..... Assoiciate iriectori RtUSSELL B.MUN1 il-iRINE Asociate Direct PAT GREEN ........ Assistant Dir ectoti ROY ROBERSON ..... Assistat Ditectot KATIE SMITH- ....... Associate Editor ROBYtN HiEARN ........... Associate Edut TiERiESA RODtRIGUZ 7..........Art Designet I:DHORIAL COMMTirTEE: L owel cli ohi h: Ari Chtappel ka, Assoi ate Pr otessori ot Foresitry Dan Collinsa. Assoiiate Professor xof t Plant Pathology: Jote Eakes.. Associlate Protitessor ot Holii teCUltute: Robert Nelson, Associate Pt otessor oft Agict.utrat Econoicste anid Run al Sitciology Roer L iin. Assistant Protessoi of Ptultry Science: At t Ax er. Piotessor. School of Hiumtan Scietnces. Dax id Sitrin.tellow- Associate Pitessot of Aimtal Health Research. Beth Gitettal. Assistat Ptro iessit oi Agt onomat and Sil s: Gcet iiitev 7ehndtei. Associate Ptrotessot ot Entomtitlogy: and Roy Rohetrson. 1DTO S1 Vt Hi N I l NICiont to tradle niamtic does iit inlic it. ituiitent hi tihe Al~taia Aet icitlitial i spet itteit Station oi Auhti ni-it versity ot one hirand ovxet another. Atny use .ti les- ticide r ates in excess itt taheled amouts in reseatch repor ted cites tiot contstitute recommnendiattioin iot such rate. Scuch use is simnplx part oi the sci- entitic itxestieaiti tnecessaix to cx aIlita Satious mtateials. No chetiical sittulci he uiseul at rates abioxe thotse permtited by the label. Initormai~tioit conttainteid herietin is ax ailable ito all per sons wxithot regardc to r ace, cotloi. sex, ori ntational origin. Alabamia Agriiiilfiuod Ek1e rimei tat ion Highlights of A gricitltttral Research Vol. 43, No. 2, Suommer /996 In 1'- -, Page 1 ,1 S u im InI e r Mohe Natire dealt Alabama farm- ers a had hand lasi x eat! Most areas ot iour stale wxr cic icxasitiicc by unpr ecedlcuiec dr'oucht and teat. Peantut prouducersx wetc pat- ticularly hard hit, but so w5ere many Alabama 3 cattle p i iduces ci5xhit c ontstat it\mxccl call le or bought hay. Exci catl sh pritcut.ci x suf- tered from hig~h prices created by shotages ofi 4 grain tot Icccl. i'erhaps the wxotxt hit xwere ihe state' ctto n prodiucers. wxho had to citdlure i a 7 both the di ito cliit and ihe wxorst inftesial ti of tobacco budssirrns cxer recotrdecd itt Alabamta. [Thtugh 19c96 brought us a nesN 9 year. xx eathei tel ateci tiroubles Cont inuccd liii Alabama produt.cirs. Suc cessi xc ate xxiit c. early s.pring itreez'es x irtually xwiped it the 10 states peach cirop anic plax ed has oc wxith spe- cia lit critps like blueberries. stiasxbi I ics. and blackbctrties. In addition to weather relat- ed proble ms, Al abamta gro(wers xxill xiuffer 12 tong-term froim the closing oi the U SDA A-tic nutual IW\eathet Inftormatiotn Set xice at 1 5 Aubur n. Ri ttlec Getz. Kai IHariike, D~asc thle. and others at the WAeather Sets ice pros id- l ed citical inifortmatiotn for ruercisand tit 16 resear cheis. They xwill be missed: 1The Alabama Agiriculiuial EIM'pc lu iiin S tat ioni xharesx many things xit fi atrm- 1 8 ei x and livesc.k piriduceirs in thc slate. Unftortun ately, tone of them is thc wxeathct. Reseairch projects at sex eral itt itur ireseat el 20 stations wxetc decimtated byevrthiu' tronm hurricanes toi ice storimx. Unlike tarmers, wxe cant beitefit its hitstile sseather. IThcigh ithe 22 pimiar m itsxio tof mainya of our pittjeets ss -- negated by the sseather. wse teartned s auable tinottatio ai:s toi buss tiany criops recact to -Tircitt Jonmes pr toitngcd cliriughit .tree, intg tempttteratuiii c. ihigh yual- and olther xxeat her abitoriiial ities. Hoipeftutlly, story oin page this ittformtation xxiii help tatrmcirs and researchie rs a like copt~e xxithl a coimmon il pi til ciem thtat we can not do miiuch about t he xxeathe. fA~ u I , L C ~C )L 'V t, L, i i L t ~ i J~il Elleu M. IBaulske. Paul L. AIask, Karl Harker C. Dale Monks, and Joseph Kenhle any corn producers believe that the best way to maximize corn yield is to plant as early as possible, but this may not always be true. AAES computer simulations indi- cate delayed planting in South Alabama can ensure that corn reaches its most critical growth stage during periods of peak rainfall. Alabama growers generally plant corn from early March until mid- May. The most critical stage in corn dccvelopment is during tasseling and silking. Drought. even tor a short period ol time duiring this stage, can cause seri- ois yield reduction. Using a simulation model. AAES researchers correlated long-term weather patterns with plant developmental stages to best utilize nat- ural rainfall in dryland crop production. Results ot the study indicated that plant- ing too early on farms in South Alabama can result in lower soil profile moisture at mid-silk. Researchers used 30 years of weather data to drixe the corn growth simulation model used to explore the relationship betxxeen planting date and soil pinoile moisture. Resulting analyses allowed researchers to estimate the amount of' moisture axailable to corn at mid-silk in an axerage year at different planting dates and locations. An initial step in this project involxed determining the number of "heat units" common corn xarieties require to reach mid-silk in Alabama. The measurement of heat units reflects the tact that temperatures must be high enough ox er a period of time to make coin gr oxx. To calculate heat units, sub- tract 50 from the axerage temperature each day of the growing season: add the remainder to the ongoing accumulation of heat units. It is possible to accumu late (-36 heat inits per day. Heat units requiired to reach mid-silk were deter- mined for 30 corn v arieties grown in AAES xariety trials from 1989 to 1994. The ax erace accumulation was 1.420 heat units. 95(4 ot the varieties were at mid-silk between 1.338 and 1.502 heat units. To address the issue of mois ture availability in the corn groth model, researchers used a xxater budget- ing balance sheet. In xxater budgeting. a method used to balance axailable soil moistire. precipitation is a credit entry and exapotranspiration (xater used by the plant and xw te lost to the atmos- Delayed Planting, continued on page 4 Alahuim Agricultural Fxperiuueiit Station Higlhlihits of/Ag ricultural Research Vol. 43, No. 2, Sumoicr 1996 N / I IP ,tC'& dl S; ici. Delayed Planting, continued from page 3 Optimal Planting Dates for Six Locations in Alabama Based on Average Precipitation and Available Soil Moisture at Mid-silk Locati on eriod of increased probability of precipitatio Brewton July 5-Aug. 22 Fairhope June 1 4-Sept. 26 Headland June 28-Aug. 22 Milstead June 28-Aug. 22 Belle Mina June 28-July 25 Sand Mountain June 21-July 25 Pr obabirity of Pr ecipitation loo 80 60A 40 20 Br ewton 0 a >*.. .- 0>. C It i'1rr, /. Irrr,/rrtlt\ ihau 1111 tttrr tril rrtr Ii phere estimated by pan evaporation) is a debit entry. A wxater budgeting balance sheet for a tine sand soil typ wC\Xas used in the planting date model. ,I his soil type has a x ery loxx ax ai lile-xwater holding capacity (one inch per foot). and repre- sents a wor0st-case scenario. Using 30- year rainfall data, researchers graphed precipitation probabilities tor Belle Mima. Sand Mountain. Headland. M/ilstead, Fairhope, and Brewxton (Figure 1). These giraphs wxere used to identify time periods wxith the greate~ prohabilitN of precipitationl at each loci tion. Pan cevaporation data and informa-~ tion on wxater uise rates at each stagyco corn dev elopment also we re used in the model. Rainfall and temperature datar xwere programmed into the simulation model for each of the six\ locations. The model xwas run for six\ planting dates at twxo-wxeek interx als beycinning on March I and endine, Max 15. Soil profile mot>- ture at mid-silk wxas graphed for each planting date at each location to deter- mine wxhen mid-silk occurr~ed at faxvor- Recommended planting dates n After April I After April I After May I No optimal date No optimal date No optimal date able soil moisture lex els (Future 2). DelaN ed planting in Milstead, Belle Mina, and Sand Mountain (Central and North Alabama) did not increase the likelihood of adequate soil moisture at mid-silk (see table). [Hxx cxri this xxas niot the case in South Alabama. Delayed planting at Brewxton, Fairhope, and Headland placed mid-silk in more faxvor- able soil moisture conditions. PlantinLz dates Suggested b this study are still xxithini current Alabama Cooperatix e Extentsion Serx ice recommnendations, but ai c later than mnany groxxers currently plant. Hoxxevxr, field tests must be done to confIirm these results, and to identity other potential draxxbacks to delay ed planting. such as increased insect pressure. Bausrke is ,Extensior Associate and Kerr ian Assistant Proa/essot in Hor ticultute. Ma< ian Associate Professor and Monks isa Assant Profesot of Agr onomy and Soi Har keti an Agtricultural Meteorologist with the Southeast Agricultural Wveatner Service Soil Profile Moisture at Mid-silk (in./ft.) 2 Brewton 3/I 3/15 4/1 4/155/I 5/15 Planting Date ig r itit' . Il r I f phr 1rt dutr rn rril Alaobama Agr~ icuit t al/ E \W1.1pe imen .Stat'ion HighighIts of Agricultural Resiearc/h 'tci/. 43, No. 2, Summeoicr 990 Kira L. Bowen, Briel'ei K. Belie, anal Elizabeth . Guermittl uses are amng the most x aluLable and familijar plants in residential If.--'and commercial landscapes. In particular, hybrid tea roses, with their large blooms anid pleasant fr agrane, ate fax orites anione rose enthu- siasts. Hy brid tea roses. howevceri- can be dcevastated by blacks pot disease. caused by a fungus cal led Dlouro ru r)01 ) ae. AAES r eseairch is hlping identif lax xxato protec these popular tlowxers. Blaekspot disease manifests itself as ei reular blaek spots on plant foliage, which greatly reduce the beau- ty' and performance of roses ini the landscape. Blackspot is easily distin- gutished fronm other diseases bx the darker color and triti ed borders ot the Spots that can occui on either side of lie leafI. S po ts o ft en are Suirrountded by at yeliloxw halo, and infected leax es tall premiaturC1 . This disease art cause .,eret- defoliation. i esiltine in a xweak- ened plant and rcduccd tlowxer prodUC- tioti. Iti Alabatma and the Southeast, high hutmidity anid Ifrequetnt ratitfallIs promtote futigal pathogen dcx eloptmett f ronm March through Noxvemiber. Nighttt ne temlperatutres betxxe 5ci79o atnd (SOO F and heax x dexx or fr equtent Shoxwers atrc ideal coniditionis that allowx lie funuiis to thrivxe atnd eonitinuous]\x rn tect pl ants. The fuLntiicide chilotrothialoil I )acoril) is effectixe iii conitrollirng hlieckspot by killing the fuingal spre that spread the disease. Howevcxeri opt i- mial disease control xxith chlorothialonilI requirIes ftreuquenit applications to pro- tect tnexx I dcx eloping leax es atid to r eplace futngicide xwashied off by rain. 'ntol of blackspot oni rouses iii \ Ihatia, therefore. may require mnure ',- I 5 ftungieide applications, at 7-10) clay irtterx als, duriing the gr1oxsing Sea- sori. Recentt concerns abutt the safety and envxironmttental itmpact of frequtetit tuitigicide use hax e caused rose e-roixxers to conisider altertiatix es A loibalii Agrulturhtal Ekp/eriuicnt Station IHihlig~hits ol Aigricidtural Re swar-ch tol. -43, No. 2. Siuminer 199O for conitrol. Bakin( soda iii solutioti xxith hiorticultural oil (a I ight petr oleumti oil labeled for conitrol of inisects), for exaniple, has beeti shown to reduce diseases on roses iii Newx York state. lIn additioni. many people beliex e that let- tiiing roses v, ith epsoti salts NI cSO_ 4 produices miore x i orous plantts. Research uniderxwax at thle F- V. Smiiith Research Cetiter is cx al uatit-ic these anid otheri blackspot cotiol mteth- ods. Initial research shiowxcd that utsinti hiort icu tutral i I ay damage truse luliage dute to the hig~her temtperatures that prevail in Alabatia. M/otrc recetitly, dutrintig the suttmmet of I1995. appl ica- tiotis of the hot-ticultutral oil solutiotns (oil alotie atid iii Suspeniioni withi bak tnu soda) xxetc alterniated xxithi chloruthialutil fungicide applicationis to axvotd the pliNtutoxte et lects ptrexiously obserx ed. Oil Solutttis xx rt applied weeckly but wet-c substituted xxithi the Ifunigicide wxhen raintfall betweecni spr ays wxas less thati 0.25 inichi. Raini iemoiuxed somie of the oil anid reduced pliNtutox te effects. Lexvels of blackspot disease. axveraged oxver the etitt seasuoi xk lien roses wxere treated xxithi altertiati ti applications of hor-ticutltur al oil arid chlot-othialoniil, xxect- statistical ly Simi- lar to disease lexvels oil plants treated wxeckly wxith the futngicide atid abott (Figuaie 1 ) Blackspot Disease, continued on page 6 Blackspot Disease, continued fromn page 5 Disease 300 250 200Nubr 150 o lwr j Total disease 50 ' over the season Fungicide Baking soda Oil Nontreated + oil igur,'e 1. I/c eo/i c appC lpyiced 'e ekiecci mai im-e! "Fuicide t/' ii us Do(ioeoi/ )7e7 iii imro Iie spoonlii 's! al/i oie o/i oater: o~ 'talo oim hoin p/soila ad 'oild alfoliLsoo~ o i s titute wi' t h a fuiigici de ii ai caitli it noe rinl o0 rre hle'it lLlm L (/1S/t spy i/Ot's. Total disease over season 200[ 150I Average vigor 3 2.5 2 1.5. 0.5 Total flowers 300 250 200 150 100 50 Epso ts Cal produced on plants spray ed alternate- Is ssith oil and the tungicide than on nontreated or baking soda-plus-oil treated plants. In addition. alternati n" oil and funeicide accordlinc toc iain esents resulted in eight fungicide applications out of 22 total foliar applications. Blackspot disease reduction and increased flosser production on plants spray ed ssith the oil solution alteirnated wsith the tfungicide. coim- pared to nontreated plants. indicate that irose loveris caii ireduce th e iiui - her of' tungicide sprays using_ this alternate strategy. Althorigh these spray schedules insvolse a sseekly regime, the number of applications (If potentially hazardous I rnglicides is reduced. Calcium clom ide cium sulfate No add]. fertility' bils on/ ros p) l /tilis tetd ti ifi iteltil ai-i/ tionl)ti cic/I cc, 1 995. Ntumbers oef flowers pi'odurced on rose plants ti'eatedl wsith oil alternated ssith the fringicide ssei'e not statistically diffei'ent ti'om plants treated sseekly weith the fungicide. Still, moie flossers wee Nuitrients suich as calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) has e been associated ssith disease colnt'ol and improved tiower production oen roses. This has caused so~me pe(Iple to uise epsom salts to treat roses. I ndeed,. onie lanrifactrirer of epsom salts esven Iclrides a i'ecommendation Ior irose use n its label (If (Ine crip espsom salts per lant per month. To test this idea. a stuidy swas initiated in 1 995 to es auate dii Icient cer ili at ion pr'act ices fo r ioses and hoss these piractices alleet di sease and plant gTrossth. Tireatments consisted of monthly appl ications of epsom salts (245 grams, or one cup), calcium chlo- tide (CaCk , 133 Bruans). rcalcium sub- late lgN psum ((CaSO., 163 girams)] plus suitni (S. 27 granms). or no( treat- ment. These nutrient applications 55 ere made in addition to regular N-P- K applications and ss crc adjusted for equiv alent amouints of Mg and Ca. Fertilizers wercie applied as granular f'orm ri at i Ots to the base of plants. - Pireliminary data shossed that epsom salt application (in addi- tion to N-P-K). on a monthly sched- rile, did 1 not i eduice the disease inci- dence but did reduce defoliation coim- pared to plants receis ing no scondars nutrients. Hovae es e the plants treated w\ith epsom salts oi CaCI, werscie less s ig- orous and produced I eve r flowsr than nontreated plants oi plants treated weith calcium sulfate (Figure 2)h. These iresults suggest that spe- cific nutrient treatments wsill not eftec- tiv els contiol blackspot disease in roses. but they may pros ide othei benefits and lessen the need foi application of furngi- cides. Complete contirol of blackspot disease may nicser be attained weithout the use (It fungicides, but proper man- agement of rose plants swill ieduce the amount of fungeicidc needed. Proper rose management incluides ainnual r eplace- ment of glround cos cr, proper pruniing andb fertiliz'ation, and remos al of fal len leas es. Pruni ng and remos al of debris is important because the funeus readily st'irsises in fallen Icas es. buds, Or intect- ed caiies. Proer tfirtility wsill keep a plant in optimal health. wshich makes it less susceptible to disease. Bowere is ar Associate Professor of Plant Patheolog, Behe is an Associate Professor of Horticultur e, and Guertcal is ar Assistart Professr of Agronomy ard Soils A labi l/llA i 'i iulti/t t li Ic Im t IS'tationt Heighcigh'/ts of Agr/icuiltura'li Rieearch V')/. 4 1, Nce 2, Sic/i/ter 1996 RECREATIONAL FISHING IS BIG BUSINESS IN ALABAMA Rebecca .1. Travnichek and Howard A, . Clolnt acres of rivers, reser- voirs, and private impoundments in Alabama support an industry with a dramatic economic impact, primarily in rural communities. A recent AAES study found that licensed Alabama anglers spent almost $800 million on fishing and fishing-related activities in 1994. When this amount is combined with estimated expenditures of resident nonlicensed and nonresident licensed anglers, Alabama's economy gained about $1.3 billion from recreational fishing. These expenditures were deter- mined by surveying individuals who purchased fishing licenses during 1994. Questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of 1,750 residents holding rod-n- reel, saltwater, fresh- and saltwater combination, hunting and fishing com bination, lifetime fishing, and lifetime hunting and fishing permits. Usable sur- vey forms were returned by 23K( of this sample. Nonresponse bias was tested and found not to be a problem. The typical licensed angler in Alabama is a white, married, middle- aged male. Most come from small towns and have completed some college educa- tion. Household income was relatively high $46,600. Respondents also report- ed that fishing was a lifetime, family activity, for which $2,330 per angler was spent in 1994. Fish species most sought by respondents were largemouth bass, bream, catfish, and crappie in fresh waters; and snapper, red fish, flounder, and mackerel in saltwater. Expenditures for fishing-related equipment and activi ties have a significant impact on Alabama's economy (see table). North Alabama counties account for slightly more than 60%- of the state's population, but the anglers who live there accounted for nearly three-fourths of total fishing-related expenditures (figures 1 and 2). This finding suggests that north- ern recreational anglers tend to spend more money on their fishing activities than southern anglers. However, a defi- nite pattern of money flow from North to South was recognized. North Alabama anglers spend a significant portion of their money in southern counties. One reason for this spending pattern is that many northern fishing enthusiasts buy boats and related equipment in South Alabama for use in their home counties. tUnfortunately. 15% of the fish inLg-r2atCd Iqu ipment ad a tc[lt i[y Recreational Fishing, continued on page 8 Alabama Agricultural Experimenl SLation Highlights of Agricultural Research Vol. 43, No. 2, Sumnnler 1996 Recreational Fishing, continued fr om pag 7 ch s sb l b m n l r e eoutside the state. This finding sueec the possibility that (a) manufacturers and businesses may not offer recreational anglers in Alabama the equipment ther need at a price competitixve wi th other states. (b) licensed anglers wxho are fish- ing outside Alabama xxould rather pur- chase equipment and Supplies closer to their intended fishing location, or (c) both fr esh- and saltwxater fishing activi ties we re pursued in states other than Alabama. Anglers in northeast and southwxest counties accounted tor 661( of the total dollars spent in other state. The lowxer amounts spent out-of-state in Northwxest and Southeast Alabama si gest that local resources Sttfficiently mect the needs of anglets in those regions. Sutrprisitngly, relattively little ol the expenditures nmade itn Alabanma xx c spectfically tor saltwxater fishing. Itnitial- lx'. anglers liv ing itn south~ertn counttes. especial ly int the Southwxest, xwerc expected to be primarily interested itn saltwxater fishing activ ities. Hoxxecvet, this did not prov e true. Expenditures for freshwxatet Ifishtrte activitttes we rc domt- tnatnt in both southertn tregions. It] summtfary, the estimated 1994 expetnditutes of Alabama's 452.113 test- dent licensed atnglers xwcte qutite substan- tial. Tis spendinge is im]por~tant to Northwest $26 1,063,764 spent on fishing 146,108 licensed anglers (19.4% of total NVV cD,.lation) Nortsheast $285,919,843 spent on fishing 135,253 licensed anglers (13.12%0 of total NE population) , _4 1 amn re i S JR attent in to these f actori w ill at io\\ tihe feeder to decide howx muich leed to dispense in each pond \\ th minimum w\aste. Undereeding cattish in ponds f av~ors mini- mi/ing ciiconsiined feed: how exci. this canl reduce iil n llow larger or lnore agg~ressive fish to eal most ot the teed. Forcing catfishl to eat also can he an econiom~ic litahilityx. If the fi sh do ilo t eat wxell because of disease oi adx erse etnviron- mental conditionis, the teeder should lot foice themii to eat. Cattis~h not ted sex erat days can conmpensate in weight gain for tile wiled day s whenl thlex are put hack oni teed. AAES r esearch ihas shol\\n thlat x ear-tmo( (hatrvest-size) cihannel cattish tasted totr up to tihree wxeeks dorine_ summtier can catch up xx ill conlttinuousl\-ted fish in anotherthiri e wxeeks. Tile tasted fish wxiii eat mlore, aind need tox in order to catch uil So tile feedet Restrictinic wxilter teeding can~ eduCC I ced costs. Geineiralix. cattish in ponhds do not ineed to he ted dourin ilttle cold mlointihs ii in inteir. A AES stutdies indicate that y ea-m5ko and x ear-onte (hince rling) chlaninel cattish not ted during the three coldest mionths ot wx ilter ( Decemiher, Januarx. aind Fehruarx ) hot fed generocislx fr oml tile first of Mlarch. wxeeihed the same hy miid-\pili as cattish ted continuoosly durinlg wintter. it' 111511 ate to he hars ested hetore trod-April. ihowxexei thley should he led dorinig x ilter to rlt~ c iiCclht loss. Nianacitic animlal plioteinl in feeds can reduce total feed costs. The molcst ex(penlsive igredienlt jn cattish feeds is fish mtial. Eatsy studies at tile A AES showxxed thlat smiall catfisilo fOt od-sie fish otider a testricted teedjinc r egjtmen required ft10 I tisih meal jin thleit teed. Recent studies in Alahamla and at 'Mi sssppj State Uivtjersjty hiaxe sh11xx i thai good produc- tion can he ohtailed \\i thlluti animilal protle in in catfish leeds xx ien tile primar protiein 'tlikhma Aiulno-/Iitc I x~ /111(11/ Sttioti slure is 5115 ban neat l xx iieti teed allowxance to the fish is not testiicied. A\s tile qciality and quanttity oll protejin jn the teed dcreases anid as dajl ic ted atlloxanice dcrieases, tile aloe Illfishi tmeal iii thle teed inlcreases. H-oxx cxc. unider mo(st clillitli- Cial cattish teedjicg regjimicns, alillilts ot fishl mleal creater thlan 34 4 xx mid he df heiuit tol justify. Recetnt studies at tile AAF S hlaxe shown i that 2(1-28'/ ainoil aLcid-halanccd proteini leeds wil yii teld tile samle wxej ilt catin as tile Comi i l ialy iuosect e nce lt ta- tjion oIi 32'/ folr lood-size cattish ted to sati- atjin dotricg the cro1w ing seasonl. Hloweveri un tder r estic ted teed ingcodi tion i i, tile hligher proltejin heed ielded tile gr eatest wxejiht cains. Te~se resuits acteec "\ithl Carly poncd teed ing e xperimi eiltS at Au hcrii ini w ijch a ceiling was placed on1 dtaily iced alloxwanice that insulted ill tile fishi hcjicg ndertfed din lg th lIatter pail tit tile gos1- inlg seasont. Undcer suich a feedinti recimenci 32-36c4 proteinl wxas optimm. Today, motlst tatrm etirs tr 1 to feed tile fish a' mulchl as tiles xxill contsumthi all seasonl ill x iicih case the lower cipiio teini conicetatitjnts x ii he morlle pillittahie. especially if large fish I larcer thlan sexvei oilcs ate hejog ted. Th~le 1115r etiloItetin leeds, xilt resoit in Si igitix hitcher teed Cloii versionl r atios: howxxes ci, uiticer 1994 colst anid ptrice coniionjI ls, tfeedjing 26'~c pro1teill feecd wxas mor11e pro itatble thi an feedcinti a .12(1 prolteini teed. Ptrlititabijty ofsl a low55er pirlteini Catfis f51eed Shloulcd he exe cii reater ini 1996. Becacise Ilt tile iteractinic cffects amongll diet arx pik j ii petrcen tage. dcitay proiteinl cquaiity, anic daily teed atllx anice on1 xx cjdli cain iih catfish', researicih indi- cates prodciters shild~c he Cacutjilcs aht i llxx-eritic thlese faictorts sillultaillousi. Folr Feed Prices, conttinuecl oni page 12 Feed Prices, continuel troin page 11t tcd ). ,)~~9 Icti uaitit IcNN imiortaflt wxhen the fisNh are led to satijety than wxhen they are restricted. Feetd manufacturerN shotild adjust fie hr) tt ii Icxel to mieet the requ iremlent of the first limiting anmino acid( s). Research at the AAES has showxn that wAith channel cat- fih, this will usually be lysine. Therefore, ifthe teed isN fol- n lated to meet the IlyNine requnire men t. the other am ino ac ids 'Aill be in suilficient Or excess tuntity. Tratditionally, catfish leeds are tornnilatcd to) eontain a minimnm amonnt ot crntde pro te in anti not he tie ici ent in anly eNsenil ai n acitd. 1This usnal I ' resu its in anl ex(cess of sev eral amino acids beine hed. Conceivxably. Iess prtoteiin could he usetIifI attention is riv en to meeting the miniiunlm retquiremnent ol the first limiiting aino acid(s) insteatd of meeting a mni- mumn pioteini retqniremient. Tihis 'Aill retqnire cox i nci nc catlish IfarmerN that meeti ng aino acidi retiIrements is more important than meeting protein retquirements. High protein prices may prov ide incentix e for teed manufacturers to use synthetic Ilysine ini catfishi feeds. Recent tutdies at the AA[S NhowAetd that iincireasing the IN ine conltent oflyI)sine-delficient diets wAith Nsynthetic Ilysine 'Aas no t aN beneficial as i ncreas ing the I)yine by Nsbstituting 'Aith soybean meal, wAhich is high in lyiniie. A pprox imiately 251 mor e free Iy ine Nuip- plemnent 'Aas neetdetd as comparetd to pio- tein-hondtlyIsine (soybean meal) stipple- ment to ix e max imiunm 'Aei cht gain. A ''ieat a mont of riesearch tdata has been pirotducetd in i Cenlt NyearN 'Aith cat- fsih on pi act ical I etd hftrmulIat ion anti feed- ng Ntratecies for cat tish wAith emphasis oil retducing cost ( as oppos~ed to i ncreas in c Sieltd). 13ut because cattish feed prieN biase been teasonabie anti consistent t~im' recent years. the intinsti) has been sloxx to make chan1cs in formuol at ions (ir cetiii1' piract ices. The 'Aoirlt stipply of protein iN expectedto r) each recoid costs in 19I This 'Aill be stiong incentivxe foi piractition- cis to be especially innox atixe anti to caic- fulii rex ie'A the research literature. Lyvel is vrsit Disinguished Poeso of Fieiesn rAlle eA .iles. VARIATIO Finding ti Ir1u lim oI,! / 1II, I)) rnu~cluf)/)) iII lmlc /l I) ~ rr r ll I/I, 1h,11 h h Alabamau Agricuiltural k \/)eril)ewt ,Saion Hig hin/bts nJ A 1r1icuIltl 11 PC ctiiti 1 fa. 4 3, No. 2, Snoomer I 990 EN... . e ./ f d Y qbanjmo Piittin t- Green s ,. af lli-aIIt/1 . Guer~,tal,. Harold Walk~er; Rav Dickens, (111d (~Colee Y Wardl ol ". isn a1fI hill iololridutyikh Uie tts oer iabincselomeiion dolrirutyi ah Uid rStdars f ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ calig and th xuxrt fel ome. os oson f I thogh ma im, us pden Them Sueas t ceping brtgrase puttin rrcs wcieass ar cl easote aat edte anorhr vac datio es.a I h ho, umi clmaes hfate beotmstcne r a talakoll oany cccpn brtwas. green, a id thirevttr. qlaincease d cc omipia.tionupi am gcfs do tll rn lixlls ht-ridbrndc sses arc col-hao grast adapted grashes noitt Uite Stgitis. warm, i hru itl regions because tliey hax c sliperior heat toleranice anti persist welli under ioxx mowxing heigchts. H-oxx cxr. on Iy a limnited number of bcrivntiaci ass cul- tix ars xxitht turt qfuality similar to bentcrass hav e been identifIicti or dcxvciopcd for uise on putting greens. In 1994. AAES ircscarchicis bccaii a stuidy to itdentif I1e ' hrcx erilitiacrass- es for rise on1 southern putting green's. The studci ex aluiatctd both cul t i airs anti cco- tx pcs. \ cl ti xar is a "culitivxatctd xarietV- onic that has been selected thlrouigli hi ctli rg. cx alunation, andt research as a suiperior tx pe. Ecot\ pes. or x ar-iarts. arc usuall ir st obserx ed as an *off-t pe" xwhlen ccrtaini plants xw thin a cuiltivxar tiemntrstirate gi roxxth or appear arie tdifferciit fromi the normal1,1 cultix ai. Txwo bcriiudaci ass cui itivxar s dcx eloped for golf grcci s ar c Ti fgrccri anit Tifdxxan . both ireleased fr omi in f hi-ccliiic programis at thic (Gcorcia Agricuiltuiral Ex\perimcrit Station. Tif crcii xwas rcleascd first arid. soon altce its r elcase. tdistinict offtyt ~pes appeared iin Ti I green puittinrg gareens throughiouit the Souithcast. ( f these ottftx pes. ifdttxx rt xx as idcintif ied arid latci released as a cliltix ar arid has becomle Best Bermudagrass, continued on page 14 Ulaba;;u .,on/ ul i xko, umeat Statin 13 Ii 'hli, 'hi/ o1/ A, in lu//u Reseanc 1 4. 43, No. 2. Sunmctr 1 996 Best Bermudagrass, cntinued from page 13 establlsitd Ifl tlk tur at IOI. [l0xc\cI. there is ev idence that other off-ty pes also exist. and tuirf managers continu- ally report the occurrence of xvariants wxithin Tif dxxart and T ifgreen putting greens. To learn more about the potential of' these cultix ars and eco- ty pes for putting gareens, researchers ev aluated girasses on both nativ e soil and United States Golf Association (UTSGA) putting greens. Natixe soil is soil that is fo(und naturally at the putting gi ecu location and has not been amended wxith sand or foreign soils. The USGA greens are ty pically con- structed of approximately 80-90%/ sand and 1 0-20% organic amend- menuts. Sprigs (stolons) of Tifgreen. Tifdwxart. their ecoty pes. and other bermudacrass cultix ars wxere collected from colt course creens and turt breed- ers from across the Southeast (see table). Amonga the grasses ev aluated wxere ecotx pes collected from twxo greens on the Country Club of Mobile (Azalea City) golf course, one from The Gulf State Park colf course in Gulf Shores, two nexw bermudacrass cultix ars trom the Georcia Acricultural Experiment Station (T596 and TW72), and txxo African bermutdacrasses fromi the Oklahoma State Unix ersity turf breeding program. Grasses were planted on April 14, 1994, in the USGA and native soil greens in replicated strip plots located at the Auburn Unix ersity Turfcrass Research Unit in Auburn. All plots wxere maintained as a putting green. wxith daily noxx inc, at a 3/16-inch height. To keep the putting surface contiiuall Ix reen, the xlot were oxver_ seeded xxith rough bluegrass in the fall as the bermudagrass became dormant. Plots wxere exaluated for rate- of-coxer during the grow- in period. Rate-ot-coxer is important because plots that establish quickly can be opened for play sooner. The grasses aso were cxvaluated for fall color, tall seedhead piroduction. spring gieeiup. and spring seedhead produiction. Color is important because golfers desire a gre en appearance. and oxver-abundant seedhead production is an undesiirable trait because seedheads are unsightlx and aftect the putting qtiality of the Duiinc the gioxx -i period, the onlx sicnificant difference in rate-of- coxverage wx'as due to the ty pe of putting creen rather than the bermrudacrass eul- tixar or ecoty pe. When ax eiaged oxver all grasses. percent ttirf coxver on May 19 in the natixve ptutting green wxas 749cr. compared to 561/( averacae coxver obserxed on the USGA puttin creen. This difference wxas still obserxved on June 21. when percent cox er wxas 96%c and 85(k for the natixve aiid USGA putting gireens. respectixelx. Ditterences in rate of estab- lishment on USGA and natixve soil putting greens may be caused by many factors, including soil moisture and/or fertility. Additional sttidies are planned to examine factors that affect rate of grow- in on USGA and natixve pitting greens. Bermudacrass croxwni on the USGA putting green xxas tisuallx darker than crasses crown on natixve soil. The txxo Oklahoma ber-mUda- crasses xxere lighter rrn than other entries. The ctil- ixvars Ti fdxxarf. Rate-of-Co' T596, and the Ecotypes in U TifIdxxarf ecoty pe fromn the Mobile Grass Countrx Cltib (Number 10 green wxere creener than C.C. of Mobile #I othe grases. Tifdwarf othe grases. Gulf Shores Unfortunately, the 2352-OK Mobile countrx Tifgreen clu ectyp wa TW72 club cotyp was Lakewood the only grass to 2747-OK produce a profit T596 Sion of seelheadl C. C. of Mobile #J S Southern Turf in the tall. Texas More gut asses pr oduced seed- heads in the spring. and there wxere more seedheads produced on the USGA green than the native soil putting green. Txxo grasses neve ci o1( duced seedheads- an ecoty pe select- ed from the Number 9 green of the Mobile country club and the Georgia cultivar TW72. When all factors are exam- ined. the nexx bermudfacrass cultix ar TW72 showxs excellent promise as a berinudagrass lor putting greens. Of selected ecoty pes. the best perfor- mance wa s denmonstrated by selections from a Gulf Shoics course andI the Number 9 gicen of the Mobile countrv club. Additional cultural treatments of moxxinc, hei cht and tratfic i ntensity wxill be suiperimnposed onl the main blocks of crasses, allowxing further evaluation of the ecoty pes and culti- v ars in Stress Situations. This rech flis ir /ided in /part In the United States Go/f Association, t/ic Alabama Thrfgrass Assxociaitioni, aind t/ic Al/abamna and Gulf Coa st chapi/ters ofth/e Gol/f Coimrxc Supcrintencidents Ass ociation. Gu.ertal is an Assisart Profeor Walker isa Professor, and Dickens is a Professor Erreritu of Agronomy and Soils. Waro is a Professor Emriturs of Horticulture. ver of Various Tifdwarf and Tifgreen SGA and Native Soil Putting Greens 0 May 19 Native USGA Pct. cover 80 60 79 58 79 59 78 61 77 46 77 49 76 70 72 61 70 54 70 50 70 46 70 56 June 21 Native USGA Pct. cover 98 90 98 86 98 88 96 87 97 79 97 81 97 93 96 87 93 85 93 85 93 77 93 85 Alabama ) g a u/itoa / /) mpcri!n .Station H-ighl/ights of Agr,'icultural Rc ~carc/i Vol. 43, No. 2, Sumimer /1990 oil fumigation- the process of chemically or physically sterilizing soil to eliminate viable weeds and plant pathogenic microorganisms- is a common practice in vegetable and straw- berry production. However, results ot an AAES study suggest that soil fumigants may affect the availablity of certain types of nitrogen (N). implying that new fertility strategies may be needed for certain crops. Methyl bromide and metham sodium are two common agricultural soil fumigants that chemically kill weeds and microorganisms. Unfortunately, these chemicals kill not only pathogenic microorganisms, but also eliminate or reduce beneficial soil microorganisms, such as Nitrosoomonas and Nitrvbucter These bacterium are responsible for con- verting amnonium (NH 4 N) to nitrate (NO 3 N), an important step in a process called the nitrogen cycle (see Figure 1). The conversion of NH 4 N to NO 3 -N is called nitriication. Although most plants will take up both forms of nitrogen and use these for growth. previous research has shown that some vegetable crops may favor NO 3 -N Alahaa Agricultutral Experiment Station foirins of nitrogen. A simple management strategy for vegetable crops is to add nitro- gen as a nitrate source, such as in calcium nitrate IC(N0 3 ),4. However, these sources of nitrogen may be more expensive than such sources as ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ). An AAES experiment was con- ducted to find out if it is necessary to use NO3-based fertilizers right after fumigation. To help answer this question an AAES laboratory study was conducted to examine soil nitrogen release in fumigated and nonfumigated soils. Portions of the soil were fumigated with either methyl bromide or metham sodium . and a control group of soils was not fumigated. Nitrogen rate treatments includ- _ ed tour rates of nitrogen at 0, 60, and 120 pounds of N per acre (120 lb. is the recommend- ed rate tor most vegetable crops Figu'r 2. Cumuvhiiii c Chris E. We.sh, Eli,-heth A. G,,errtl, anid C. Wesles' Wood in Alabama) and 240 pounds pe acre. All N tireatments were applied to fumigated and nonfimigated soils alike. The treatments were enclosed in sealed canning jars. Soil samples vere taken daily tor 1 days and every other day for II more days. Samples were analyzed tor NO 3 -N and NH 4 N content, and diffter ences in N content as affected by soil fiumi- gant and N fertilizer were evaluated. After 22 days of sampling, the nonfumigated soil samples contained more soil NO 3- N than those fumigated with either methyl bromide or metham sodium. This indicates that soil lumigation, regard- less of the type of fumigant used, did slow nitrification, and less NH 4 N was being converted to NO 3 -N. Fumigated soils exhibited net increase in NH 4 N while nonfumigated soils had net decreases (see Figure 2). The decrease in nitrification caused by fumigating soil with these two chemicals suggests that producers using fumigants may need to adjust their starter fertilizer applications on vegetable crops that are sensitive to N form. Additional research is undeirway to determine it these laboratory findings will also occur in a field setting and perhaps fine-tune fertility recommendations for fruit and vegetable growers. Wesh is a Graduate Research Assstant, Guerta i ar Assistant Professor, and Wood is an Alimni Assoc ate Professor of Agronomy and Sois. 1iIIiU1niinl-N us a/j f 0(1 1)5 fuliunis40 Highlights o/A gricultural Resear ch Vol. 43, No. 2, Suosoner 1996 Figurve 1. The nitrogene~ cvle. Poultry Litter Looks Promising in Surface Mine Land Reclamation Je L. Sibley, Willia A. Doiet; t:, ames O. Donld, David G. Him ic k, John H. Wilhoit, and E.S. Lve, JI: demonstration project in Walker County shows the potential value of poultry litter as a soil amendment in reforestation and revegetation of surtace coal mine land to mitigate nonpoint source water pollution impacts in the surrounding watershed. Applying poultry litter in sur- face coal mine reclamation is especially appropriate for Alabama. These arc two major state industries, both concentrated in the north-central part ot the state. Alabama ranks second in U.S. broiler production, generating $1.4 billion annually. or oneeighth of the state's economy. The Alabama coal industry ranks twelfth in the U.S., mining just under 30 million tons annually. Coal- fired plants supply more than 75% of all electricity used in Alabama, and about 57% nationwide. About 2W/ of Alabama is underlain by coal, compared with 12% nationally. The two industries also face the challenge of converting waste byproducts into environmentally sound assets: for the poultry industry, broiler litter; for the coal industry, unr-e- claimed land following surface mining. In producing more than 900 million broilers annually, Alabama growers also produce more than two million tons of broiler litter. This nutri- ent-rich byproduct potentially could supply the necessary nitrogen for all row crops grown in Alabama. In the past, broiler litter has represented a dis- posal problem and a potential environ- mental hazard when applied to farmland at sometimes excessive rates. However its ttilization potential is increasingly being recognized. More than 100000 acres in Alabama have been surface mined for coal. If not properly restored through reclamation, surlfce-mined lands can contribute to significant environmental problems, chiefly nonpoint source water pollttion. Prior to the implementation of reclamation laws, removal of vegetative cover and adverse modification of the soil surface increased soil erosion and runoftf resulting in siltation of streambeds. The chemical quality in surface water runoff can be changed as a result of mining activities and may affect water quality if reclamation laws and regulations are not properly fol- lowed. Currently, coal companies are reclaiming suiface-mined land system- atically as part of the overall mining operation. However, land mined before passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (referred to as pre-law land) is reclaimed at a much slower pace. An on-going AAES study. begun in the spring of 1994. is focusing on reclamation of a portion of the Sunlight Mine a pre-law mine site adja- cent to Blackwater Creek, a tribttary of the Upper Black Warrior River. The site is owned by Drummond Company. Inc.. which has made a long-term commit- ment for site land manacement and con- tributed heavy equipment operation for 011* l i,"w, I)i; H' "( o' III u/ in i/ priH n; IC I, o', l igure 3. (rig/it) Alter: leavy vegettion no011 covers the gioujoriti of Sunlight Mine. A mixiiture of legumes caun forages followng i prepartioln u ul an ame Alaba u a Agricultural Experint Stationi H-ighlig;hts of Agricultural Research Vol. 43, No. 2, Summer 1996 PLOT FORAGE YIELD (on air dry weight) loru,>1 yil r/ c ul t/t the project. Auhurin Unix ersity,'s i-ole in the pi-oject is oxverall cootdination. link- ing itidustix and acrencx interactions to assuire snccessfuof site ref otestation and tce e etat io~n to mit igate no tn point sonutce impacts oin, and doxxntstrcaim from. l-lackxxater Ci-cek. Baseline xx atet qu~al- itx data and lhxdrologa\ studies xxet-e conducted by the Alabama D~epat-tmet otf Enirtonimental Management (AIJEM to dfeterinie the impact of e cmcdi at itt on non potint s0 i-ce ru noff. Auburni also is conducti tic local and statexxide educational programs to ix olx e arid educate citizens ini the x alue of t-eclamnatioti as a wxatet- quality impr~tOxe meniit totol. The ei ght-acr-e ptoiect site xx as heax ii' etroded and practically dexoid of xvegetation. Initial oti-site soil samples rexealed pH1 tanged froim 3.3-4.2. The site xxas amended xxith Ifinely g*round lime stone at trates ran i I rotn) foor to eight totns per act-e. ef fectixvely raisinig the soil pH to 4.9. A slurty pH1 of less than thrtee xxa a. xxith the entire project elf. toured inrtot (tie xxatet sI runiof I pH- to 4.5. Thtee onie-acre established and amiended Ifrin a Walker County btoi at trates oft 10. 20, and 40) t These plotts wxete cotmpared ieeix ed in let-al let-tili zer reclamnation r ates of1 600( po 13-13 pet acire and atnother not receixve aim f ettilizer o tetr. All soil atmendmnents wx to a depth of 1 2 inches xxith and Rome disc. A mixtur lespedeza, rN e, and clox er cast ox er the etiie at-ca xxith hay. Ptex iots researcl tial hardxwood trees respiot to the iirienit and ircatnic tetit iof broiler litter, leadinti ti/i am ,~t/t\ l~f t('ttt/ltul li ttttt/tttt/i t 111 S lta ti l/t' il/ ilia ii tihc t Highili~/i;s of .1griul u/t Reseirc/i 'o/. 4l3 NoAc. 2, Summe~ir 1990 Sibe is aReseachr Assstn. Dozr a Pr ofesso and Depar tment Heao, ando Himelrlc is a Professor of Hoticulte. Donald is a Professor and Wilhoit Is an Associate Professo of Agricultura ngineetr. Lile is Profeso (retired) of orstrv idu~tl e- -,uial. riiitlti I.u tOI ict,t N ith autj tilt 601a iitt i nt itti n (Auhuer itte t I M C Jit , undit ier xs I dep~cniitiei it I tiitilit- .cid x2'i. tu . Intteintional~t t circ Seed (o. Inc t itIt S('(i): adl the PLOT tion of a 75(% hardtwxood, 25 (c% ecrneen mix of eig!ht tree species. Containerized tree seedling:s prox ided by Internautional Fotrest Seed Comnpany,. Inc.. we re plant- ed dor11ing the wxinter and early spring of' - 1994-95 at 60(0 trees per acre using a dibble matched to the Linilorim root sys- tems of the seedlings. By late spr ing~ ol' 1995, the pre- iouisly h ate, hi chik-eroded site wxas co\ eted xx ith heaxy v xectatix e crox',tll. wxith the l itte- amended plots shoxxing pond wxith a an adxvantage ovecr the 'etilizer-only elinminated. plot. Sampling of yijelds f rout the gtrass- cctix elx con- es andi legutmes shoxx the bend its of led, raisinl biroiler litter amn tdmntt from the stand- point of' potential tor grazing or hay plots wxere cropping. Forage x ields from the I ittet- xxilitter amended plots xxelre twxo to three times let- opeiration hi cher than the statewxide and Walker ons per acre. ConnIN axerages (scc graph). i xen the to a plot that high rtes of litter hiaxve had no negatixve at st andaird effects at this po int oti gittriud c x er o r iiindS~ of 13- t-ce so t- t xaLI and so rface ruoft has plot thaut did been nearly eliminated. Additionallx. Ir pooltrN lit- gtround xxater sampling by A 1)1 I has etrc disced in no intdicated at si enifIicant i ncr ease in a D- 5 dozer nittrates (NO 3). e of fescue. This projiect is dciitottstiatiiic xx as bt-oad- hoxx the Alabama coal inditstt x can Ind nmnlched aiddress enxvir-ontmental hazards of pt- laxx mine sites b, Liti lizint one of has shoxxnt Alabama's poi lty tidustrN b\ ptodttcts id fax orablx in ani enxitrointenttally beneficial wxax . mlatter con- The ptroject also inodels ptroductivxe to the selec- cooperatixve elfforts in a tmote genetral wxax. O O AIL Uorntarison of Cadre and Sraire-based Wee C B:; _~E he introduction of Cadre to the assort- ment of herbicides currently available in peanut production has opened new doors for weed control. Cadre offers control of many troublesome broadleaf and grass weeds that are left unchecked by Pursuit, a herbicide with similar chemistry that has been available to peanut growers the past few years. max chance M ith addition ot ncxx her- bicides to the peanut market place. Starfire is registered for post emer- geene (POST) application on peanuts between emergence and 28 days alter peanut emergence. a relatixely limited window of application. Basagran and/or Butyrac 200 are often added as a tank mixture in order to control weeds that may escape Stairtire, such as snalallflo er morningclorx. coffee Senna. prickly sida. and bistlx starbur. Also, the addition of Basagran reduces the amount ot Starfire-induced i njury to the peanut plants. An AAES study evaluated and compared Starfire-based herbicide pro- grams with systems containing Cadre for weed control, peanut yield, and net Cadre has a wxide w indoxx of application timing. but for maximum perlormance it is recommended that it be applied at a rate of tour ounces per acre (il Irates are expressed in foimuI- kited product, not active ingredient) at early post emergence (EPOST) before the weeds exceed two to three inches in height. For sexeral years. mixtures of Star-fire with ButyrIC 200 and/or Basagran hax e been x widelx used for weed -. .. . mana (e ment in peanuts. but 1W, Q~t. ibiS Stan- .,~. .a., h- ~laird Alabaio Aricultual I \/N rii t Sttion Higlilghts of Agl'iculturalO Research lio. 43. No. 2, Suooomer 1996 . ' ;~~ I~-:u- lt i ?r;Z~C I elm ns xhen used in Alabama peanut production systems. Onoing experi- ments are beitie conducted at the Wiregrass Substation in Headland. The first year's data are discussed here. Natural populations of yellow nutsedge, bristly starbur. sicklepod. Texas panicum. and Florida beggar- weed infested the expeiimental plots. Prowl was applied (one quart per acre) preplant incorporated (PPI) oxer the entire test area and incorporated to a depth of 2.5 inches one day before planting Florunner peanuts. Six EPOSTapplied and four POST-applied treatments were arranged with all possible combina- tions. EPOST treatments included (I) none. (2) Starfire. (3) Cadre at two ounces per acre. (4) Cadre at four ounces per acre. (5) Starflire plus tank-mixed) Cadre at twxo ounces per acre, and (6) Startfire pus Cadre at LuI ounces per acre. The POST treat- ments were: ( I) none. (2) Butyrac 200. (3) Starfire plus Basagran and (4) Starfire plus Basagran and Butyrac 200. Starfire, Basagiran. and Butyrac 200 were applied at II, 16. and 16 ounces per acre, respectively, at both EPOST and POST applications. Visual estimates of weed control were record- ed at periodic interx als throughout the groing season. Test plot data on inputs and xield were exaluated at the Iarm pro- duction scale lex el using enterprise budgets dexeloped by the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service for nonirrigated peanut production. Peanut net ieturn calculations xere based upon the assumption that the 7 _ontrd tYvZ Dauniel 1. Padget, Gln('n R. WVcitje. ('/Volir]e Perrin, anid Neil R. Ma'lrtin, Jr: crop would have a normal grade and be marketed at a 3:1 ratio of quota peanuts and additional peanuts. Prices tor quota and additional peanuts were S610) and 5300 per ton, respectively. Yellow nutsedue control was rated at greater than 90% for Cadre at both the two or four ounces per acre rate applied alone, regardless of whether a POST treatment was used. Control of Florida beggarweed. sickle- pod, and bristly starbur was similar. thus only an average rating for these broadleaf weeds is presented. As seen in previons studies and this study. both an EPOST and POST treatment was required for maximum (reater than EPOST Treatment POST None None None None Cadre 0.5X Cadre 0.5X Cadre 0.5X Cadre 0.5X Cadre IX Cadre IX Cadre IX Cadre IX Star Star Star Star Cadre 0.5X + Star Cadre 0.5X + Star Cadre 0.5X + Star Cadre 0.5X + Star Cadre IX + Star Cadre IX + Star Cadre IX + Star Cadre IX + Star I Cadre 0.5X and IX none DB Star+Bas Star+Bas+DB none DB Star+Bas Star+Bas+DB none DB Star+ Bas Star+Bas+DB none DB Star+Bas Star+Bas+DB none DB Star+Bas Star+Bas+DB none DB Star+Bas Star+Bas+DB 90) weed control; this was also true tor the maximum yield and maximum net returns. Starfire applied EPOST followed by Starfire plus Basagran plus Butyrac 200 provided this level of control. However, nearly all the treat- ments in which Cadre was applied EPOST at four ounces per acre fol- lowed by any POST application that contained Startire provided conpara- ble weed control. Starfire is fairly competitive with Cadre with respect to weed con- trol, yet maximum yields and net returns retlected the application of Cadre. Maximum yield andi net return wxas achiexed wxith Cadre applied alone Cost of Avg. broadlef Avg. yellow herbicides weed control nutsedge control dol.la 6.43 9.46 13.24 16.21 20.74 23.77 27.55 30.52 34.99 38.02 41.80 44.77 9.04 12.07 15.85 18.82 23.29 26.32 30.10 33.07 37.54 40.57 44.35 47.32 EPOST, at either the two or four ounces per acre rate, followed by a POST application of a Starfire Butyrac 200, and Basagran tank mix- ture. For both maximum weed control and maximum yield to be obtained, it was required that both an EPOST and POST herbicide application be uti- lized. These results reveal the excel- lent weed control and yield-preserxing benefits of this recently registered her- bicide. Yet, two separate herbicide applications were required for maxi- mum xeed control, yield and net return. Further research involving split applicatio n of Cadre at two ounces per acre tor both 1POST and POST may Net ,how the prac- returns tice to be equal dol./a i' if not more -131.76 effective than -46.80 -91.50 the best treat- -13.60 iment of this 43.80 1 30.50 sUdy. 173.60 dgett is a 197.80 raduate Re- 80.50 -arch Assistant 144.30 11260 ,.d Wehe i a 198.00 ofes r fAgo -51.70 ory and Sols. 99.40 rmn is a Graduate 141.50 -esearch Assistant 83.20 rd Martin s 39.60 '-ofessor of Agr 123.20 w'Rura Econo- 124.50 ics ard Rural 123.40 131.60 1 15.00 53.50 4.50 Yield lb./a 2,561 3,004 2,886 3,230 3.612 4,084 4,347 4,501 3,884 4,256 4,102 4,556 3,068 3,848 4,102 3,793 3,585 4,066 4,093 4,111 4,184 4,111 3,902 4,129 Cadre applied at two and four ounces per acre, respectively: Star = Starfire: Bas = Basagran; and DB = Butyrac 200. 2 Control ratings of Florida beggarweed, sicklepod, and bristly starbur were averaged into an overall composite rating. \II/klrrh r r :l(rrirr ulzl L I crimue r alrirolr 19 Higrliyrl'Is oJ AiS'ricultunuI Research Vol. 43, No. 2, Summner / 96 Results from 1995 Peanut Production Season bILVER QUE-:EN MAY No LONGER BE THE RULING SWEET CORN VARIETY AnteShon, LEricSin e oJi Pitts 10d Gav r T HE SWEETNESS, TEXTURE, AND AROMA of sweet corn. along with its hiLgh yield and desirable grain color. makes this a $2.7 million crop in Alabama. For almost 20 years. the most popular sweet corn variety has been the white cultiv ar Silx er Queen. H-owev er, results of a recent AAES Study indicate that Silver Queen may no longer be the reigning monarch of sweet corn v arieties. Sw\ cd orn ContliiSSeut- pre- fer Sil\ er Queen and claim they can identify its typical f lav~or. An AAF S study w\as conducted to determine if Silver Queen is actually recognii~ed I or its O\\n attrihottes or il it henelits pri- marily from name recog~nition. A taste- testing panel in this study rated six sweetc corn \ arieties as superior to Sil\ er Queen. and onN a1 te\\ tasters could properly identilx this popular \ ariety. Silver Queen is a traditional sutgary ( Su) sw~eet corn v ariet. Varieties that chal- lenged SiI\ ci Queen in this study w\erc h brid sugar enhanced (se) or super- A tastc[n Q hat/hI rated i ci ~i X\U cued corn U/Uc'ic NJ//k for u .S'1U c ii A labamat A'rIiulturaUl Lyer('imenC/t .Station Hig~hlightrs of Agr'icutltutral Reseac/Fh to/. 43, No. 2, Siummn r /990 SucLrI i c Sueai oatcnt. which is genetically controlled, is the most important sensory attribute of sweet corn. At hai xest. sugar concen- tration in su sxweet corn is -151,c: se. 8-20%: and sh2. 25-40 After har- xest. the sucar in kernels of su vari- eties is rapidly conxerted to starch. but this conx ersion occurs more slowly in sh2 x arieties. The charac- teiistic creamy texture of sweet corn is due to the accumulation ofx water- soluble polysaccharides. Silxer Queen and other traditional su sweet corn xarieties haxe more polysaccha- rides than the hybrid xarieties. Aroma. xhich is not as easily defined as sweetness or texture. is most often associated x ih dimethx sulfide, a compound that proxides a pleasing corn-like characteristic. Cooked ears from the sweet corn xvariety trial conducted at the Chilton Area Horticulture Substation in Clanton xrcec served to a panel of tasters. A total ol nine varieties were exaluated. but each panelist xas asked to rate a selection of only fixve culti- vars. Each fixe-sample set included Silxer Queen. along xith four other xari- eties. Samples xx i Ce identified only h\ Vai-iety random three-di'it Treasure numbers. The paiel Silverado wx as comprised main- Even Sweeter l, of groxeirs. Lar- SS 7801 Fantasia dcners. and retirees: Starshine 67 completed ansxr Silver Queen sheets were used for Snow Belle statistical analsiSno White Ratings ()l I Varieties were ' The types of s appearance. sxcet- 3 Overall rank ness. flaxor, and overall rank sum, in appearance, 2 overall preference (1+3+2+2=8). crc sienif icLl\ n at elted bx xar iety (see table). However, most of the selected cultixars received acceptable ratings. The appearance of Silx erado and Even Sxeeter ears xxas rated hiuh est. while Fantasia and Snoxw White were rated lowest. Sweetness was found the highest in SS 78()I. lTreasure. and Exven Sweeter. The sweetness rating of Snow White was the closest to beina undesirable. Flaxor ratings were highest for Starshine and loxest for Snox Belle. Treasure and Silxverado icccix ed the hiehest scor es fI ox erall prefeir- ence. Oxerall. Treasure xas ranked first. Exen Sweeter and Silxerado tied for second, and SS 7801 was ranked touith. Three of these four top-rated cultixars are supersxeet x arieties. Silver Queen was ranked sexenth out of nine in oxverallI preference. Panelists were asked to identi- fx Silx er Queen among the fixve corn samples they tasted. Thirty percent of the panelists properly identified Silxer Queen, 58'1 could not identil' it. and I2,-/( did not Live any anser. Since each panelist was presented fixe xari- eties. the odd" of correctlx clioosing Six cr Queen at random wxre '11'r. T herefore only a small traction of the panel recognized Silxver Queen. Panelists also xxere asked to list all the sxeet corn xvariet', names they could remember. Of 67 iesponses. 34% c did not name any sweet corn vari- ety. The most commonly named xari- eties were Silxer Queen (by 61/r oft the iesponding panelists). Golden Queen (10'. and Bantam (5'). These results illistiate the popularity of Silxer Queen. Results of this first vear of an ongoing sttidy emphasize the impoirtance of cultivar selection in the production of swe et corn. Sugar lexelIs in sweet corn kernels are genetically controlled, thus xariety choice is critical. Rankings from this study should be used in conjunction xxith yield performance and disease resistance before selecting xxhich xhite sxxeet corn to plant. Amy and Eric Simonne are Post-Doctor a Fellows in Nutriion and Food Scence and Horiculture, r especivel Jim Pitts is Superintendent of the Criton Area Horticulture Substation Gary Gray is an Table I.Average Ratings of Selected Sweet Corn Varieties I Type' sh2 se sh2 sh2 se se su se sh2 Overall preference Appearance 9.7 8.5 9.4 10.4 8.3 10.1 8.0 7.6 7.3 7.0 7.0 7.9 7.9 7.3 7.5 8.2 6.0 6.1 Sweetness 9. 1 7.6 9.0 9.9 8.0 7.4 7.9 7.7 5.6 Flavor 8.8 8.6 7.7 8.6 8.8 9.4 7.7 6. I 6.3 Over all rank sum 3 8 14 14 15 21 22 23 25 35 rated on a 0-14 scale (0 = undesirable/dislike; 14 = desirable/like extremely). weet corn are sugary (su), sugar enhanced (se). and supersweet (sh2). sum was calculated by adding the ranks of each attribute (maximum value = 36); the smaller the the better. For example, the top overall sweet cornTreasure, ranked Ist in overall preference. 3rd nd in sweetness, and 2nd in flavor. Adding these rankings yields an overall rank sum of 8 Alabama A ricultural/ Evjcrimcmi Satiton 21 Hig'hlights o 'ricultulral Researh W. -43. No. 2, .Siuer 199 RE-TA k PORK PRODUCTS OFTEN CONTA. MEATS OTHER THAN P Yun-Hwa P. Hsieh, Carla J. Wets Ptein, and Nancy R. Creen? n AAES study has identified a widespread problem in Alabama retail markets: much of the state's fresh ground pork and pork sausage contain significant amounts of meats other than pork. The major adulterating species in these pork products are beef, poultry, and mutton. Mixing undeclared species in meat products is illegal under food labeling regulations mandated and mon- itored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), as well as by state agencies. Apart from regulatory requirements, prevention of undeclared species in meat products is important for economic, religious, and health reasons. 3r -~c S. ** A----- -A A total ot 129 samples, including 42 ground pork samples and 87 fresh pure-pork sausage products, were collected by Alabama food inspectors from different manufacturers and retail stores across the state as part ot routine, regulatory sample collec- tions. Samples were analyzed to detect beef, poultry, and mutton substitution and to confirm that pork was actually used in the products. Researchers used Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, a sensitive technique that can identify proteins from specif- ic animal tissues. Ninety percent of the ground pork samples, all of which were market-made. con- tained beef and/or poultry (Table I). Sheep tissue was not found in the ground pork samples. The 87 pork sausage samples included 42 name-brands and 45 market-made products. Overall, 54C% of the pork sausage samples contained undeclared meat. Twelve percent of the of name-brands were in violation of labeling regulations while 931c of market-made sausage was adulterated. Of the 38 adulterated ground pork samples 99% con- tained beef, and 18c% contained poultry (Figure 1). Of the 47 adul- terated sausage samples, 96% contained beef: 38%. poultry; and 2%, mutton. In ground pork, 84.6% of the adulterated samples were contaminated by one species, and 15.4% were contam- inated by two species (Figure 2). In adulterated pork sausage sam- ples. 62% were contaminated with a single species, 36% with two species, and 2% with three species. Since beef is more expensive than pork, there is no 22 Alabama Aricrltura Experiment Station Higlihts oftAgricultural Re search Vol. 43. No. 2, Somniner 1996 d. - ~~ ~~-~~~~ a ''m - -W A apparent economic reason for the addition of beef to pork products. Results indicated that the primary problem centers around the meat rinding operation. Market manacers Percentage of contaminated species 100 9 0 I Beef 80 D Poultry 60 Sheep 40 - - 18 readily admitted that they did not rou- tinely clean grinders when changing from ground beef to another meat. Poullr. on the other hand, is cheaper than pork. indicating the possibility of Ground pork Pork sausage Contaminated species in pork products Figure~ 1. 7hc p aricrc -, of \ipcc'ie' contaminationiic, in aciciulmrariic d roiwd pork anal pork sama.rrlc~i;~c Alahwnua Agicultuam Experiment Station Higuhlights oIf Agricultural Research Vol. 43, No. 2, Summer 1996 intentional adulteration for economic reasons. The addition of lamb meat to pork is thought to be done to utilize the unmarketable trimmings left from expensive meats and to extend the bulk of pork products. Fatter trim- mings from beet or poultry also could be added to ground pork products to extend bulk. USDA allows a fat limit of 5W4( for fresh pork sausage. while regular ground beef can contain only 30Q fat. There is no fat content limit for fresh ground pork. Most of the adulterated meat contained 1-10% of undeclared species (Table 2). Low concentrations (less than 1%) of meat contamination rnay be due to poor market grinder cleaning practices. However. the pres- ence of hieher concentrations and multiple undeclared species in meat prodtucts are likely indications of intciitionial adulteration. Retail Pork, continued on page 24 /nir -l l/-. u iicih il, 1~ 'il I)W , ~l /nia, .- i n ,i c ,rouni~!ir l Retail Pork, continued from page 23 As rev ealed in this StLudy. cur- cunt retail practice in Alahama meat markets shows a widespread species ad u Iteration. In the past, thei Al Ta a Department of Ag riculture did not implcmcnt the meat species monitoringe program at the retail le\ el due to inlsalf licicut facilities and technolo'y Recently. Alabama strengthened its retail meat regulatory program to dis- courage meat adulteration. Hsieh is an Assstant Pr ofessor Wetzscern i a Graduate Reserchr Assisant and reni a Pr ofessor of Nutririon and Food Science Table 1. Pork Product Samples in Violation of Labeling Regulations Product Samples Violations no. Ground pork 42 Name-brand 42 sausage Market-made 45 sausage 62% ~J Single species 1Two jspecies Three ~Ispecies - 36.0% Ground pork Pork sausage F/ rrnir 2. The distribion of ( lcihihi I) spec in /1(/i piork samples. Table 2. Number of Samples of Ground Pork and Pork Sausage Containing Undeclared Species at Various Adulteration Concentrations Violation rate Adulteirating species No. of samples adultriated at 0.5- 1000 concentirations 0.5-1%o 1-5% 5-10% > 10% .U no. no. no. no. 12 Beef 5/4 16/ 17 17/ 12 0/ 12 Poultry 3/6 2/4 1 /7 - I/l 93 Mutton 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 Total 2 19(1 7%) 39(36%o) 37(34%o) 14(1 3%) 1Numbers to the left of the slash are the number of ground pork samples found adulterated at each of the concentrations; numbers to the right of the slash repre- sent adulterated pork sausage samples. 2 Values in parentheses represent the percent of total violations. AtLABAMIA AGRICULITURA\L EXPERIMENT STATION AUB[URN U NIXVERSITY AUBURN UNIVt:RSITIY, ALABAMA 36849-540)3 Lowe ll T. Frobish. Diirector POSTMIASTER-Addr es Cctio nc Requester] NON-PROFI I ORG. POSTAGE & Ft [S PAll) PERMIlT NO. 9 AU.BURN. ALA. 24 A/labamau Agicul(tura ii 5li I I riCti .Sta tio I Higi~hi/ 4/Is o Ari'cultura Researchi V/o/. 43. Noy. 2, Summter 1996