BULLETIN No. 277 SEPTEMBER 1950 EXPERIMENTS wdh OIL CROPS NFOR THE A EDVANCEREENTNT . V AND A RTS k y ST T O M.~~ DietrAbunJ. ~ ~ Fucns lbm dALABAMA M. J. Funchness, Director POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE Auburn, Alabama CONTENTS Page CASTORBEANS-3 Results of Variety Tests -------Description of Varieties ------S ize of Seed - -- - - - - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - -- ----- -- -- -- - --- - 4 5 9 Percentage of Oil in Seed -----Spacing T ests ---Fertilizer Tests--------------------- -- --- - 9 9 11 11 Diseases Castorbeans for Boll Weevil Control-11 Recommendations for Crowing Castorbeans in AlabamaFLAX-13 Variety Tests--14 12 Fertilizer Tests --- -- -- --Time of Planting Tests ----- -- -- -- ------ -- -- --- -- - - 16 17 18 Iodine Number and Oil Content R ecom m endations ------------------------------------- 19 H EM P - - - - - - - - - - --- - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - 20 R ecom m endations ------------------------------------- 22 SA FFL OW E R -- - - - - - - - - - - - - --- - --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 23 CH IA PEL-UL LA - - - - - - - - ----- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --- 24 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --- --- - ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --- --- 24 SESAM E OR BEN NE ----------------------------------------. SU NFLO WER - -- - - - - - -- - -- - -- - - -- -- - -- - - - - - - - - -- - -- ---28 26 ---- 27 Recommendations FIRST PRINTING 5M EXPERIMENTS OIL CROPS D. G. STURKIE, Agronomist w UNITED STATES consumes large quantities of vegetable oils. In addition to the amount produced in this country during the 10-year period, 1930-1989, approximately 11 billion more pounds were imported for use. Difficulties encountered in importing oils during the war years emphasized the need for research on the possibility of increasing domestic production. In line with this need, the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station expanded research with cotton, peanuts and soybeans, and additional work was started with oil crops not commonly grown by Alabama farmers. The new crops studied were: castorbeans, flax, hemp, benne, chia, perilla, safflower, and sunflower. This publication reports the results obtained with these new oil crops. THE CASTORBEANS The castorbean, Ricinus communis, is often grown in Alabama as an ornamental and shade plant. It is referred to as castorbean, palma christi; or molebean. The plant is characterized by large colorful leaves and varies in size from a few feet in height to a height of 20 feet. Although there are numerous varieties of castorbeans, only a few low-growing varieties are suitable for commercial production. Castorbeans usually are produced for oil that is found in the seed. In general, large seeded varieties contain a lower percentage of oil but the variation is not great. Seed of most varieties contain approximately 50 per cent oil. The oil is used as a substitute for tung oil in the paint industry and in the manufacture of plastics. The refined oil is used for medicinal purposes. Since the seed and the meal remaining after the oil is extracted is poisonous to animals, 4the plant has no value as a feed. Attempts have been made to produce an insecticide from the leaves and stems, and to use the stalks for making paper. ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION It SI.Ir 1)< OF1 xAIIlS Tra s xini rn ~. V ariety tests wxere conducilted at f our location s in A labamal~. lIn tests the rows wxere 42 inches wxidl( all andithe bills wxere spce '3fe apart wxith 0one stalk pcr hll. Tihe fertilizer tr (atm ent consistedl of an alplicationl ot 600t poundl~s of 6- S-4 fertilizer pe acre mladle blefore or at tihe time oft planltingI.. Tile sp)ikes were Iharxv(sted 1)5 band as the seed ripenled. Usu allx three pickingcs xwere mladle (l(rillI. tile liarp est period. Thew leanls xwere builed oti a macline Iiiade for humlling~ small lots of castorbeans. Tests wxere colnducltedl at thle \\ireirass Siihstation, h eadl and, on Norfolk sandyl lo)amil (1 of ahome ax eraige fertilits , Table 1. Tests at thlt MIaini Stationl Aubulirnl wcr ciolndulctel oill Nolrfolk sanldy loam also oif albo e axcag fn~~ itx , Table 2. Tests at tl e 1 isk ertil le(c ExperimenI t Field xxere on a Leaf soil logx in fertilitx . H~ants oil this solil su~fferedl f riom extremies oIf wXet aind dlroughlt The yild ob1 (ltalinlid xxere the lowest oif ails of the tests ill the State, Table :3. Tests at the Tiililssee V allex Su bstation. Belle M Iina, xxere cnduc(1lltedl on a x erx f ertile D~ecaturi clax 1loam soil, Table 4. Piesults (of all (of thlese tests s11(ow thlat Connier wXas probhably tile (litstand~liiii v arietx . Dolughty 11 xxas alsol anl excellent x arietx . Kentu cky :38 p~roduled g~ood x ields at I eadland and at Aubu~rnl. -~jt -. r' . '.. ..w .. e ;^PFc.i5 -ly i67 Cy-a t': ,.l the Moin a1 Station, FIGURE 1. Conner variety ofcosorbean inl var Auburn, Alabama s at EXPERIMENTS with OIL CROPS 5 TABLE 1. RESULTS OBTAINED IN CASTORBEAN VARIETY TESTS, SUBSTATION, HEADLAND, 1942-1943. WIREGRASS Variety 1 Variety of shelled seed 2 1942 879 Conner _____________ Doughty 11 ____________716 900 Kentucky 38 Kansas Common ____945 U. S. 4 ______________870 794 U. S. 7 _________ Yield per acre 1943 1,354 1,192 898 - Shelling percentage 1942 67 71 75 74 74 71 Average no. of Average height per plant spikes per plant 1942 2.4 0.9 2.5 3.5 3.6 4.2 1943 69 72 69 - 1943 3.0 3.0 7.0 - 1942 83 70 66 66 62 62 1943 84 79 72 - Pounds Pounds Inches Inches -........... - - 1Planting dates: April 25, 1942; and April 23, 1943. 'Harvesting dates August 11, and November 15, 1942; and August 10, September 10, and November 6, 1943. DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES Conner is a medium height variety, averaging 5 to 7 CONNER. feet, and develops a relatively small number of large spikes. The leaves are large and are dark reddish green. The seed are medium in size and are dark brown with white to gray mottling. The seed do not shatter easily. Doughty 11, San Benito, and Kansas Common are varieties that are very similar to Conner and are probably closely related to it. The plants are medium to tall, averaging 6 to 7 feet. The leaves are large and the stems and leaves are reddish. The seed are medium in size. These varieties showed greater variation in plant characteristics than did Conner. This indicates that the seed used were not as pure as those of Conner, which may account for the lower yield of these varieties. Plants are small, averaging 4 to 6 feet. The leaves, KENTUCKY 38. stems, and pods of this variety are characteristically marked with a beautiful pinkish red color. Plants of this variety, therefore, are very striking in appearance. The seed are red with brown mottling and are medium in size. The spikes are compact and are not as large as those of Conner. This variety does not appear to be able to withstand adverse conditions, particularly drought, as well as does Conner. U. S. 4 AND U. S. 7. These two varieties appear to be very similar. They are small to medium in size, and the plants are much more branched than are those of Conner. The plants are blue green in color and produce relatively large numbers of spikes, which are very small and loose. The seed are relatively small and tend to shatter. This variety is medium to tall, averaging 5 to 7 feet. SANGUINEUS. The seed used were not pure. Some stalks were quite similar to those TABLE 2. RESULTS OBTAINED IN CASTORBEAN VARIETY TEST, MAIN STATION, AUBURN, 1940-1944. Variety 1 1940 Lb. - Yield per acre of shelled seed 2 1941 1942 1943 Lb. Lb. Lb. 955 1,521 1,205 1944 Lb. 1,468 1,443 1,413 1,198 Shelling percentage 1942 1943 1944 65 63 66 Average no. of spikes per plant 1942 1943 6.4 3.2 3.1 7.2 7.2 5.8 Average height per plant 1942 1943 In. In. 54 74 64 43 49 49 Kentucky 38 Doughty 11 Conner Sanguineus __________________697 Kansas Common Flowering - ---------------778 819 ---------------- --1,134 1,011 -------------876 1,045 72 71 69 69 67 66 San Benito _____________------ ----- 978 - 405 914 1,042 1,131 1,416 - 63 66 67 66 70 69 8.0 6.6 18.9 13.0 70 41 74 76 a 1,154 1,261 474 U. S. 7 _________ U. S. 4 ____________ Small Commercial 562 - 377 638 1,014 1,000 180 1,201 637 987 - 1,142 - 53 63 68 - 66 40 73 72 - 68 - Zanzibarensis Colbert Cullars 150 528 974 26 54 48 4.4 Gibson ------------165 459 26 51 1.2 Thorsby -----------68 417 220 53 5.6 'Planting dates were May 10, 1940; May 12, 1941; April 20, 1942; April 7, 1943; and April 29, 1944. - -----------_____________ --334 _______202 - - 4.0 4.0 8.4 - 8.5 5.0 - 57 75 - 76 76 45 44 - a 3 8.0- 61 6.0 186. - 60 155 442 189 616 1,380 72 50 33 53 -51 2.1 2.2 1.7 5.0 64 48 108 72 C 4.7 8.9 - 28, and December 7, 1942; August 27, September 14, and November 9, 1943; and September 23, November 2 and December 21, 1944. 'Hlarvesting 40 72 65 74 80 m m in dates were September 20 and November 20, 1940; September 30 and December 2, 1941; September 3, October z .4 .I 0 z EXPERIMENTS with OIL CROPS FIGURE 2. Left: young spike with Close-up of castorb*e fl ,-stlk showing male feale floer trd developing seed. Right: Costorbar spike at maturity, ready for harvest. TmI .. 3i IIFSULTS OBTA\INED [N CA\STORBEALN VARSIETY EXPERIMEN T IKLD, 1942-194:3 TEST', TUSKF]GE Variety t Yield pe r ace Shelle Seedl 1942 1943 Shelling peret stagc 1942 66 73 65 69 66 74 As irag not. of spikes per plant 1942 194:3 2.3 1.3 1.7 3.3 3.2 - As crage' hteigist pcir plant 1942 194:3 194:3 Pounds P'ountds Connecr 596 :329 Kansas Conmnon 554 299 Doutghty 11 567 28.3 Sanguineus :395 223 Kentucky 38 390) 154 4:31 U. S. 4 U. S. 7 278 -Zanzibarensis -34.3 S mall Commercial. 1104 Thorshy -------- 88 - Iti(lits baitlirs 56 -5.3 50) 44 52 47 38 34 41 38 :9 7 59 61 - - 81 49 ' Dates planted were April 28, 1942, and June 7, 194:3. 'Dates harvested were September 1 and .30 and October :30, 1942: anid Septemnber 24, October 18, and November 9, 194:3. 8 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION of Conner and had a red colored stem, while other stalks had a purple color. The seed did not shatter. The leaves are medium in size and are green in color. This variety did not appear to be any better suited to Alabama conditions than did Conner. ZANZIBARENSIS. Plants of this variety are very tall. In some cases, they reach a height of 20 feet. The stems are large with few branches .and are usually green but are sometimes purple in color. The leaves are green and the seeds are extremely large and easily shattered. This variety is not suited for commercial production. SMALL COMMERCIAL. This is a small to medium variety with many branches. Its appearance is very similar to that of U. S. 4 or U. S. 7, but the seed shatter much more readily. Frequently the seed shatter TABLE 4. RESULTS OBTAINED IN CASTORBEAN VARIETY TEST, TENNESSEE VALLEY SUBSTATION, BELLE MINA, 1942-1943. Variety1 Varietyper Yield per acre of shelled seed' 1942 1943 Shelling percentage 1942 64 68 66 70 Average no. of s plant pikes Average height perplant 1943 67 - 1942 2.5 6.0 12.0 7.0 1943 8.0 - 1942 1943 Conner Pounds Pounds 1,128 1,087 Inches Inches 41 79 39 46 35 - Kansas Common .... 1,114 U. S. 4 1,002 U. S. 7 1_______________ ,082 - - - Doughty 11 Kentucky 38 1,081 995 1,004 878 67 68 68 69 2.1 4.7 6.0 12.0 41 36 74 50 1 Planting dates were April 22 and August 3, 1942; and April 25 and August 12, 1943. 2Harvesting dates were October 19 and November 11, 1942; and August 30, September 15, and October 23, 1943. TABLE 5. NUMBER OF SEED PER POUND OF VARIOUS VARIETIES GROWN, MAIN STATION, AUBURN, 1942. OF CASTORBEANS Variety Cullars Colbert Gibson Small Commercial U. S. 7 U. S. 4 Kansas Common Doughty 11 Sanguineus San Benito Kentucky 38 Conner Flowering Zanzibarensis Number of seed per pound 4,668 3,700 3,502 2,424 1,865 1,765 1,558 1,542 1,465 1,308 1,202 1,065 859 612 EXPERIMENTS with OIL CROPS 9 as soon as they begin to ripen. Because of this characteristic, it is not suited to commercial production. LOCAL VARIETIES IN ALABAMA. Colbert is a variety found growing locally in Colbert County, Alabama. The plants are tall, muchbranched, and bear large spikes. The seed are very small and are retained tightly in the hulls, making the variety difficult to thresh. Cullars, a local variety found growing at Auburn, is tall growing. The plants are much-branched and have medium-sized spikes containing small seed. Gibson, from Cullman County, is a tall-growing variety. It has a large number of relatively small spikes with small seed. None of these varieties appeared to be suitable for commercial production in Alabama. SIZE OF SEED The number of seed per pound was determined for the varieties that were grown at Auburn in 1942. The results, Table 5, show that number of seed per pound varied from approximately 600 to 4,600. The three local varieties that were selected from different localities in Alabama produced the smallest seed. The largest seed were produced by Zanzibarensis. Of the varieties suited for commercial production, Conner had the largest seed and U. S. 7 had the smallest. The other varieties ranged between these two extremes. PERCENTAGE OF OIL IN SEED Seed from varieties grown in Auburn in 1941 were analyzed for oil. The results were as follows: Variety Oil Percentage C o n ner -- --- - - - --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 52 D oughty 11 ---------------------------- ----- 50 Kentucky 88 49 U. S. 4 and U. S. 7 Sanguineus ------ 48 48 It may be noted that the oil content varied from 52 per cent to 48 per cent. In this particular test, Conner had the largest percentage of oil and Sanguineus had the lowest percentage. The few varieties tested did not show the extreme variation in percentage of oil between varieties that has been shown in some other states. SPACING TESTS Using the Conner variety, spacing in 1941 and 1942, and at Tuskegee at the rate of 600 pounds per acre of Rows 42 inches in width were used. tests were conducted at Auburn in 1942. Fertilizer was applied a 6-8-4 mixture before planting. Spacing between hills and num- 10 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 10 ALABAMA AGRICUTRLEPIMNSAIO ber of plants per hill varied, as shown in Table 6. The planted at a rate of 5 to 6 beans per hill in the spacing were thinned to the proper number of plants per hill cultivation. Treatments were replicated four times in a randomized block design. Four-row plots 60 feet long and the two inside rows were harvested by hand when mature. The results are shown in Table 6. beans were shown and at the first completely were used, beans were The data indicate that the most satisfactory spacing is one to two stalks per hill spaced 2 to 3 feet apart in 42-inch rows. TABLE 6. RESULTS OF SPACING TESTS OF CASTORBEANS, MAIN STATION, AUBURN, 1941-42, AND TUSKEGEE EXPERIMENT FIELD, 1942. Spacing of bills Number of plants per hill 1 Yield per acre of shelled Auburn 1941 Pounds seed 2 Tuskegee 1942 Pounds 1942 Pounds Average Pounds 1 foot -------------------------------- 1 2 feet -------------------------------- 1 3 feet -------------------------------- 1 -2 3 feet --------------------4 feet -------------------------------- 1 1 1,279 1,354 1,194 85 7 705 885 832 1,040 992 1,120 1,013 572 634 478 551 Planting dates at Auburn were May 21, 1941 and April 20, 1942; and at Tuskegee, April 28, 1942. 2Harvesting dates at Auburn were September 30 and December 2, 1941; and September 3, October 28, and December 7, 1942. At Tuskegee, they were September 1, September 30, and October 30, 1942. TABLE 7. RESULTS OF FERTILIZER TESTS WITH CASTORBEANS, MAIN STATION, AUBURN, 1941-1944. Yield per acre2 of shelled seed 19423 19433 Pounds Pounds Fertilizer grade 1 None -------------------6-8-4 --------------------- 19413 Pounds 19443 Pounds per acre used in 1944. 2 Planting dates were May 12, 1941; April 30, 1942; April 7, 1943; and April 29, 1944. dates were September 30 and December 2, 1941; September 3, 4 October 28, and December 7, 1942; August 27, September 14, and November 9, 'Rate 6-0-0 0-0-4 0-8-4 6-8-0 6-0-4 6-8-8 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 921 1,160 647 309 611 443 1,042 560 1,443 363 482 539 783 616 780 1,024 1,071 1,648 of 600 pounds per acre used in 1941, 1942, and 1943 and 1,000 pounds 'Harvesting 1943; September 22, November 2, and December 21, 1944. EXPERIMENTS with OIL CROPS 11 FERTILIZER TESTS Fertilizer tests were conducted on a Norfolk sandy loam soil at Auburn in 1941 to 1944 inclusive. A different area was used each year to avoid any cumulative effect of the fertilizer treatment. Beans were planted in 42-inch rows and spaced one plant per hill, 3 feet apart. The fertilizers were applied prior to planting. Single-row plots replicated either 3 or 4 times were used. The beans were harvested by hand as they ripened. Fertilizer treatments and yields are reported in Table 7. Results indicate that, while there was a dominant need for nitrogen, highest yields were obtained where a complete fertilizer was used. In 1942 it was noted that there was considerably less spotting of leaves on the plots receiving potash. Beginning in 1943 an additional plot was added. On this plot potash was doubled. It may be noted that this plot produced the highest yield in 1943 and 1944. In these 2 years, it was also evident that the application of potash reduced spotting of the leaves. Much of the spotting or rust appearance of the leaves may have been due to a deficiency in potash. DISEASES Diseases have been suggested as being a limiting factor in producing castorbeans in portions of the South. Only one disease of any importance, other than potash deficiency referred to above, appeared in these tests. Leaf spot (Cercospora ricinella Sacc. and Berl.) was serious in the test at Tuskegee in 1942. No particular disease appeared in the other tests. CASTORBEANS FOR BOLL WEEVIL CONTROL It has been claimed that insects are repelled or killed by the presence of castorbeans, and that scattered planting of castorbeans in a cotton field would control boll weevils. A test was conducted at Auburn in 1942, using one row of the Conner variety castorbean alternated with two rows of cotton. Item Cotton and castorbeans Cotton alone Amount of cotton square infestation on: June 2, per cent 65 July 2, per cent 45 July 9, per cent 46 July 20, per cent 95 July 29, per cent 89 Yield of seedcotton per acre, pounds* ...... 647 Yield of castorbeans per acre, pounds* ...... 3870 *Calculated on an acre basis. 59 41 50 83 81 1,086 12 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Boll Weevil counts and yield records indicated that the presence of castorbeans did not reduce the percentage of infestation. Weevils were as prevalent in cotton containing beans as in that of cotton alone. The presence of castorbeans reduced the yield of cotton. This was probably due to shading by the beans, which in this case grew from 8 to 10 feet tall. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GROWING CASTORBEANS IN ALABAMA If castorbeans were produced commercially in Alabama, the following practices appear to be best from the results obtained in the reported experiments: 1. The soil should be prepared as for cotton or corn. Early planting of the beans is preferable. Castorbeans will stand considerable frost, and, therefore, may be planted earlier than cotton. At Auburn, planting the last of March or first of April would be satisfactory. Planting may be delayed until May without danger of the beans being killed before the seed mature; however, the growth of plants would not be as large and the yield of beans would not be as great as that of early planting. 2. The beans should be dropped in hills from 2 to 8 feet apart with 2 or 3 beans per hill in rows 36 to 42 inches wide. With reasonably good germination, this should give from 1 to 8 plants every 2 or 8 feet. It will usually require from 5 to 8 pounds of seed per acre to plant at this rate. The seed should be covered to 2 inches in depth. 3. The best variety is Conner. Varieties such as Doughty 11, with characteristics similar to Conner, might be used. 4. Six hundred or more pounds per acre of a fertilizer relatively high in nitrogen and potash, such as 6-8-8, should be used. 5. Castorbeans should be cultivated the same as corn. Frequent shallow cultivation should be practiced to control weeds until the plants are large enough to shade the ground. After plants are about 2 feet high, weeds will not be a serious problem and cultivation should cease. 6. Castorbeans should be harvested by hand as the spikes mature. It would be desirable to make about three harvests during the fall. The first harvest will be about September 1. One person can harvest from 600 to 1,000 pounds of beans in the hull per day. The beans should be stored in a well aerated house to prevent molding. As soon as they are dry they may be threshed. In commercial production, it probably would be preferable for a farmer to sell beans in the hull and for the processor to provide a threshing machine in the plant. Beans may be left until frost and harvested with a combine. If this is done there will be a considerable loss in yield due to shattering , EXPERIMENTS with OIL CROPS 13 of seedl at least this enniinit xxill ntot thrt(sh tite seed clean. iuixit spikes, but e tirue of thet x arteties now axvailablle. A It \Xill rcmollXe them fromt thet tlls wxiil left oil the beans. be FLAX woul 011( Linutttt t .Slli.sillttl is groxn for oil aitd fiber. V arieties for oil istialix are not suitablie for fiblet; coeo(1sehx xarieties (grosit for1 filber lisi ilix' (10 not produilce as largec a x jeld of seedi as dot tile \ arieties g'ross t for ol. .,roxx i Fla. wxith xarieties suitale ftor The1 stratx f roml titese s arieties, hoxxex er, is sititable fo)1 lust int makitt, paper. itpholsterx, atit other pu(rpolses wh iere a high grade f lay f iber is ntot ntecessarx. It somite inlstantces tite ititi of straxx- wxas (etcrt in ed, it wh t ases th e resulI ts are reptortedi. Iich Oil from flax is kntoxxn as linseed o~il and is principally tusedi oil for int the paint iitditstrx. Tile mteal kntoxxni as linseed iflt is ediiifie antd imakts atn exellenit stock feedi. STe plant is an aitntlal that grtixxs best in cool1 moltist climattes. Ili Alab~ama, therefore, it is sluitalie for groxxb ini inxintter aitd earix sprittg months. Flax ntormlll reachies a iteicilt of 15 to .30 iitehes. WXitwit piattted thiekix it iproducies fcxx branehes. ibut xxhient piantetd tinly-i it prtotdices a conisidierable numbtier of hiranes. The flioxxers vaix itt coior from bluie tti xxhlte tr pale piulk 1(peioint, tn the deal Tests repotrtedi int this publicatitti 1)i1 prtoducttiont. 7 FIGURE 3. FlIox in seed productior. exp iette of uMumt Station, Aubut i, Alabama. 14 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION variety. Usually they open before sunrise and the petals shed before noon. The seed are borne in a 5-cell boll. Each boll contains 5 to 10 seed. There are never more than 10 seed in a boll, and under unfavorable conditions there may be only 2 or 3. The seed contain from 32 to 38 per cent oil. The oil content is greatly reduced by high temperatures and dry weather during the ripening period. Flax requires a fertile loamy type of soil. Soils low in organic matter or low in fertility are not suitable for flax production. The plant usually is able to withstand a temperature as low as 150 F., but it may be killed at a temperature of 18 to 24 ° if this low temperature occurs either in the seedling stage or when the plants are growing rapidly in the spring. Although the crop is seldom grown in Alabama, it can be produced in central and southern portions of the State. VARIETY TESTS Variety tests were conducted at Atmore and at Auburn. In these tests the flax was planted in rows 12 inches apart. Usually three-row plots were used and the middle row was harvested for yield records. Varieties were randomized and usually were replicated from 2 to 4 times. Seed usually were planted at a rate of 60 pounds per acre. Fertilizer was applied prior to planting at the rate of 300 pounds of superphosphate and 50 pounds of muriate of potash per acre. Nitrogen was supplied from nitrate of soda applied as a side-dressing about March 1 at the rate of 225 pounds per acre. The varieties were harvested when mature, threshed, and the seed yields determined. In a few cases where straw yields were determined, the plants were weighed before threshing and the seed weight subtracted from that of the entire plant; the resulting difference was reported as weight of straw. The variety tests at Atmore were conducted RESULTS AT ATMORE. on Orangeburg fine sandy loam of high fertility. The results, Table 8, show that the leading varieties were Rio, Bison x C.I. 479, Biwing, and Royal. Straw yields were determined in 1943 and are given in the table. These yields were the highest ever reported in the State. The results show that in general the varieties produced a good yield of seed and straw. Yields in 1944 were greatly reduced by unusually heavy rainfall that occurred several days during the blooming period. RESULTS AT AUBURN. The variety tests at Auburn were conducted on a Norfolk sandy loam of average fertility. This soil, low in organic matter, was not well suited for growth of flax. In 1941 two variety tests were conducted. In one test varieties that had been grown at EXPERIMENTS TABLE 8. with OIL CROPS THE YIELDS OF VARIETIES OF FLAX, STATE FARM, ATMORE, 1943-1944. of see Variety' No. 1943 1944 2-yr. av. per acre 1948 yYield Pounds Pounds Pounds Pounds 139 859 2,926 Rio ---------------------------------------- 280 1,578 244 851 2,457 Bison X C. I. 479 ------------ 920 1,457 165 814 2,192 917 1,468 Biwing ---------------811 3,097 Royal ---------------------------------828 1,538 84 1,409 142 776 1,919 Bolley Golden ---644 6--------------2,042 320 1,298 226 760 Redwing --------------------------------147 700 2,505 1,252 5012-B 37 ---------------------------- 874 2,035 1,170 212 691 Bison X Redwing ---------------- 914 256 690 2,015 1,123 Bison X Redwing ----------- 918 1,729 842 1,103 272 688 Koto (Coteau) --------------140 683 2,559 1,225 Indian 12-12 ------------------------ 1,011 3,062 653 1,178 128 244 Linota -----------------2,028 80 625 1,171 355 X Bison ------------------------ 1,038 611 1,749 Argentine Pale-Blue 4,729 1,116 106 1,225 601 263 36 939 Abyssinian Yellow ------------2,050 122 602 1,082 Bison ------------------------------------ 389 1,919 534 994 73 Renew ---------------------------------- 839 529 104 953 20 Punjab ----------------------------------- 912 1,633 485 220 749 Bison X C. I. 479 ---------------- 975 1,266 471 139 803 355 X Bison ------------------------ 1,042 --------- 'Planting TABLE 9. 'Harvesting Variety' dates were November 16, 1943, and November 18, 1944. dates were May 19, 1943, and May 23, 1944. YIELDS OF VARIETIES OF FLAX, MAIN STATION, AUBURN, 1938-1941. C I No. 1938 Yield of seed per acre 1939 1940 1941 Straw per 4-yr. av. 1940 Pounds 808 1,100 1,105 1,324 1,015 Punjab-------------Bison -------------Linota ------------Redwing ----------Rio --------------- 280 36 Bolley Golden ------ 644 Abyssinian Yellow --and December 20, 1941. 20 389 244 320 Pounds Pounds Pounds Pounds Pounds 522 640 425 485 537 581 461 381 588 344 432 339 393 429 567 423 467 400 601 223 120 656 359 455 398 315 66 476 349 299 367 408 487 374 317 593 714 'Planting dates were March 5, 1938; February 17, 1939; February 28, 1940; Auburn since 1938 were used. The other test consisted of new varieties obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture in 1941. The results of all experiments at Auburn are reported in Tables 9' and 10. Yields of straw were determined in 1940 and are shown in Table 9. Straw yields were again determined in 1943 and are shown in Table 10. The leading varieties were Indian 12-12, Puinjab, Bison, Linota, Redwing and Rio. 16 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TABLE 10. THE YIELDS OF VARIETIES OF FLAX, MAIN STATION, AUBURN, 1941-1944. Variety 1 C. I. Yield of seed per acre 1941 1942 Lb. 568 477 554 546 418 411 520 491 545 545 411 431 431 518 456 390 664 420 479 452 1943 Lb. 826 545 640 436 681 895 354 681 490 418 02 No. Lb. 540 577 399 340 246 552 442 198 408 314 467 289 577 535 594 195 297 416 408 450 3-yr. av. 1941, 1942, 1944 4-yr. av. 1944 Lb. 490 366 290 525 462 402 404 346 258 398 744 364 469 421 410 466 432 Lb. 606 491 471 462 452 440 430 429 425 419 406 373 369 369 365 365 348 Lb. 533 473 414 470 375 455 455 345 404 419 541 361 492 491 487 351 466 Straw yield per acre 1943 Lb. 1,134 831 1,035 653 871 681 572 789 695 690 612 Indian 12-12 1,011 320 Redwing Bison 389 Rio 280 5012 - B 37 874 Renew (Newland x 19/112) 839 Koto (Coteau) 842 Argentine Pale Blue 472-9 Royal 828 244 Linota Bison X C.I. 479 _975 355 X Bison 1,038 Bison X C.I. 479 -920 Bison X Redwing 914 Bison X Redwing -918 355 X Bison ---1,042 644 Bolley Golden Biwing (Bison X 917 Redwing) Abyssinian Yellow _36 Punjab 20 408 02 02 02 408 02 640 381 245 02 02 270 440 269 338 332 293 369 442 390 ,,,,,,, 'Planting dates were December 20, 1941; January 23, 1942; November 5, 1943; and January 25, 1944. 2 Killed by cold. FERTILIZER TESTS In 1940 and 1941 grade and rate of fertilizer tests were conducted at Auburn. The soil used was a Norfolk sandy loam of average fertility. The superphosphate and/or muriate of potash was applied in the furrow and mixed with the soil before planting the seed. Nitrogen from nitrate of soda was applied as a side-dressing about March 1. Four-row plots 16 feet long were used and the rows were spaced 12 inches apart. Treatments were replicated from 2 to 4 times. The two inside rows were harvested for yield determination. The results are given in Tables 11 and 12. When a 6-8-4 fertilizer was used, the flax yields were increased as the rate was increased. In this test the yields were increased at the highest rate used, possibly indicating that the test did not include a rate sufficiently high for maximum production. The principal response was to nitrogen, but both phosphate and potash were beneficial. This indicates that flax should receive a complete fertilizer high in nitrogen. The rate of fertilization should be 600 or more pounds per acre when flax is grown on a soil similar to the one at Auburn. Tests were not conducted on other soils. EXPERIMENTS with OIL CROPS 17 EXPERIMENTS TABLE 11. with OIL CROPS YIELDS OF FLAX RECEIVING FERTILIZERS OF DIFFERENT MAIN STATION, AUBURN, 1940-1941 1 GRADES, Yield of seed per acre Grade 2 1940 Pounds -------------------------------- 160 ----------------------------190 ---- -- -- -- -5 2 58--------------------------------------532 ----------------------------425 1941 Founds 91 146 383 469 379 2-year average Founds 126 168 458 500 402 0-0-0 0-8-4 6-8-0 6-8-4 6-0-4 'Punjab Variety. 2600 pounds per acre was used. TABLE 12. YIELDS OF FLAX RECEIVING DIFFERENT RATES MAIN STATION, AUBURN, 1940-1941'. OF FERTILIZATION, Fertilization Straw yield per acre Rate Pounds 0 300 600 Grade 0-0-0 6-8-4 6-8-4 1940 Pounds 160 381 532 1941 Pounds 91 310 469 2-yr. average Pounds 126 346 560 per acre 1940 Pounds 653 1,100 1,408 'Punjab variety. 2 Fertilizer from superphosphate (18%), muriate of potash (60%), and nitrate of soda (16%). TIME OF PLANTING TESTS Time-of-planting tests were conducted with most of the varieties at Auburn in 1941 to 1944 inclusive. These tests were on Norfolk sandy loam of average fertility. There were 2 to 4 replications of single-row plots 16 feet long. The seed were drilled at the rate of 60 pounds per acre on two dates. One planting was usually in late fall or early winter and the other was late winter or early spring. The used was 600 pounds of 6-8-4 per acre. Phosphate and potash lizer ferti- were applied ahead of planting, while nitrogen as nitrate of soda was applied as top dressing about March 1. The results are reported in Table 13. In 2 of the 4 years, there was serious winter-killing in one or the other dates of planting. Serious winter-killing occurred in 1943 with some varieties in both dates of planting. Indian 12-12 was the only variety that withstood cold during all of the years on each of the dates of planting. This variety was more cold resistant at any stage of growth than the others tested. Most varieties are able to withstand considerable cold after they are well established and are not in a succulent growing condition. 18 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 18 TABLE 13. ALABAMA YIELD OF VARIETIES OF AGRICUTRLEPIMNSAIO WIIEN PLANTED ON DIFFERENT DATES, MAIN STATION, AUBURN, 1941-1944. FLAX Seed yield Variety C. I. No. Dee. 20, 1940 Feb. 12, 1941 per acre from different planting dates' Nov. 29, 1941 Jan. 23, 1942 Lb. 452 479 Nov. 5, 1942 Feb. 28, 1943 Lb. 02 02 Nov. 16, 1943 Jan. 25, 1944 Lb. 269 440 Punjab 20 Abyssinian Yellow 36 Linota -------244 Rio 280 Redwing 320 389 Bison Argentine Pale Blue 472-9 644 Bolley Golden Royal -------- 828 Renew (Newland X 19/112 __ 839 Koto (Coteau) _ 842 5012 -B 37 Lb. 640 403 Lb. 450 408 314 340 Lb. 295 263 265 210 390 297 198 308 263 454 Lb. 0' 01 418 436 Lb. 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 339 455 467 531 577 399 198 545 546 477 554 491 664 545 411 520 418 518 420 456 431 411 568~ 431 390 0' 02 02 398 525 366 545 640 681 02 0" 02 02 02 290 346 432 258 736 487 - 297 408 552 442 246 535 416 594 02 02 02 02 02 490 395 354 681 02 - --874 379 140 317 311 295 324 176 459 317 208 02 02 02 02 Bison X Redwing 914 Biwing (Bisoni X Redwing) _ 917 Bison X Redwing 918 Bison X C. I. 479 - 02 02 02 02 02 402 404 462 421 270 410 469 245 02 02 02 02 02 ---920 - 577 467 540 289 195 0' 02 Bison X C. I. 479 975 ----- - 744 490 Indian 12-12 ___ 1,011 355 x Bison ___1,038 355 x Bison ____1,042 621 826 408 408 1,030 02 02 298 02 02 364 466 Harvesting dates were May 28 and June 5, 1941; June 6 and June 12, 1942; June 8 and June 14, 1943; and June 13, 1944. 'Killed by cold. The yield shows planting produced there is a greater fall; hence, on the that in years in which winter-killing occurred, fall a higher yield than did spring planting. Usually danger of cold damage in the spring than in the average, fall planting should be preferable. OIL CONTENT IODINE NUMBER AND Seed of several varieties of flax grown in Auburn in 1944 were analyzed for oil content and iodine number of the oil. The results are shown in Table 14. It may be noted that there was very little variation between the seeds of different varieties. EXPERIMENTS with OIL CROPS 19 EXPERIMENTS TABLE 14. with OIL CROPS PERCENTAGE OF OIL AND IODINE NUMBER OF THE OIL OF VARIETIES GROWN AT MAIN STATION, AUBURN, 1944. 19 FLAX Variety C.1 No. Oil content' Iodine No. 2 Per cent 37.8 20 Punjab ---------------------------------------35.8 36 Abyssinian Yellow ---------------------35.0 244 Linota ---------------------------------------37 .4 Rio ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- 280 36.0 Redw ing --------------------------------------- 320 37.2 B ison ---------------------------------------- 389 36.1 -472-9 Argentine Sel ------------------------644---3----9-17---------------449 Bolley Golden 37.9 828 Royal ---------------------------------------36.5 839 R enew ---------------------------------------35.8 Koto (Coteau) _- --------------------------- 842 37.0 Bolley's No. 5012 ------------------------ 874 36.3 917 Biwing 37.9 Bison x Redwing -------------------------- 914 34.1 Bison x Redwing -------------------------- 918 35.7 920 Avon ------------------------------36.2 975 Bison x 479 -----------------------------38.5 -1,011 Indian Sel ------------------------36.8 - -1,038 355 x Bison ----------------------1,042-36.7---8-------------------137 355 x Bison A---33.8------182----------------15A Fiber Flax ---29.8 29A ----------------------Fiber Flax -------------35.0 Fiber Flax ------------------------------------- 40A 175 179 184 176 183 176 171 175 181 183 180 182 182 182 182 182 175 176 181 178 'Oil content, based on 8 per cent moisture in flaxseed determined by extraction method. number determined by refraction method. -Iodine The determinations were made by J. A. Schricker at the University of Minnesota. RECOMMENDATIONS Flax can be grown in central and southern Alabama if fertile loamy soils are used. Seed should be planted after the weather is cool in the fall, but before severe cold weather begins. Usually this will be between the middle of October and the last of November. The best variety to use is Indian 12-12, which is more winter hardy than the others. It will make nearly as large a yield in favorable winters as the other varieties, and in cold winters it will make a higher yield. If flax is planted along the Gulf Coast where winterkilling is not common, some of the other better yielding varieties may be used, such as Rio, Bison x C. I. 479, Biwing, and Royal. The tests reported herein did not include a rate of fertilization high enough for maximum yields. From these tests and from observations, it is believed that flax should receive a liberal application of a complete fertilizer, 500 or 600 pounds of 6-8-4 at planting time. It should be top-dressed with nitrogen about March 1 with 300 pounds of nitrate of soda or its equivalent. 20 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TIhe soil shold he tlhorouigly prepared and~ the flax planitedl at a rat( of 60 ti o80pound~s of seed per acre. Seed should be broadcast and~ (oXveredcrv lIightix- xwith a cultipacker. If a drill is usxed, (arn shou ld be taken to cox er the seedl not oxver !>inch ini dlepth . Flax seedl shouuld nlexer he plan~ted as dleep as5 oats. IIarxexting mlad he (lone wi th a combine wxhen the seed are ripe. IL E Ni1P HIemp, Cannaobis .s(Ii a, is grown hoth as a fiber cro p and1( as a grain cro~p. The seed are uxed for oil producetion and~ ax a feedl for b)irds. The flowxers and~ leax (s of thed plant contain a nareotie kiuoxxii as mariluuan a. B~ecause of its nareotic principal, a Fedleral permit has to lbe obtainued in order to groxx it. It is priniall\ grownu in the lUited States ax a fiber crop. b~ut it can be growxn for oil purposxex. he plant is aniannual and grwxs from a fewx feet to 15 feet iii height, dependin g on the f ertility of soil andc earliness of pluantin g. It is dioeeious (wxxith male and female flowxens on sepiarate plants ). The male plants (lie soon after the pollen is shed. wxhile the f emuale plants lix until froxt or until the seed become nature. Ihemp reuluires a fertile loamy xoil. The plant is capable of stanuding the high temnperatuirex of Alabama xsummers. hxnltx of xex dral textx counduceted at A\uburn shl that h emup miglht oxx FIGURE 4. Hemp in seed production, experimen~ts at MainSttin Auun Alabama. EXPERIMENTS with OIL CROPS 21 be produced in Alabama for oil purposes. The soil used was a Norfolk sandy loam of above the average in fertility. TEST No. 1. The area was broken, and fertilizer was broadcast and disked into the soil. Fertilization consisted of a mixture of 500 pounds of nitrate of soda, 500 pounds of superphosphate, and 160 pounds of muriate of potash per acre. Hemp was planted March 29, 1943, in 42-inch rows. Hills were 4 feet apart with 3 to 5 stalks per hill. Flat shallow cultivation to control weeds was given until the plants were 3 to 4 feet high. The plants were harvested August 23. A yield of 250 pounds of threshed seed per acre was obtained. It was noted that the hemp did not begin to set seed until the last of July when the days were shorter. Very few, if any, seed were set from blooms occurring in June and early July. TEST No. 2. The object of this test was to determine if hemp seed might be produced from broadcast seedings made at a time of year so that blooming would occur in a short-day period. Preparation consisted of breaking and disking. One thousand pounds of 6-8-4 fertilizer per acre was broadcast and disked into the soil. Seed were sown broadcast at the rate of 50 pounds per acre and were covered with a cultipacker. The results are as follows: Date of Planting June 28 July 30 August 30 Harvesting October 19 October 19 Too small to harvest Yield of threshed seed per acre Pounds 272 255 0 The plants began blooming and setting seed rapidly. Although August 80 plantings bloomed and set seed, the seed did not mature by frost. The yields were not large but were sufficient, except for the late August seeding, to justify planting hemp for seed by this method, since the seed could be harvested with a combine and no cultivation would be involved. TEST No. 3. Since the results in 1948 indicated that length of day was very important in seed formation of hemp and that high yields might be obtained if the proper planting date was used, a time-ofplanting test was conducted in 1944. Preparation consisted of turning the land and broadcasting and disking the fertilizer into the soil. Fertilizer was applied at the rate of 850 pounds per acre of 0-14-10 before planting, and 850 pounds of nitrate of soda was applied as a side-dressing when the plants were 5 to 6 inches high. The hemp was planted in 4-foot rows, with hills 2 feet apart and 4 to 5 plants per hill. 22 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Date of Planting Harvesting March 15 October 4 April 14 October 4 May 15 October 4 -* June 15 * Died from dry weather in June. Yield of threshed Average heights seed per acre of stalks Pounds Feet 510 10 8 938 1,747 6 An excellent yield was obtained from the May 15 planting. If planted too early, the stalks become too large to be harvested with a combine and too many of the stalks are killed by disease. The most important disease noted on hemp was Southern blight, Sclerotium Rolfsii (Sacc.). This disease killed 20 to 25 per cent of the stalks during hot weather. It usually was not very serious in spring and early summer on hemp planted for fiber. RECOMMENDATIONS Hemp can be grown in all sections of Alabama if planted on fertile loamy soil. For seed purposes hemp should be planted from May 15 to June 15 if seed are to be harvested with a combine. Seeding earlier than this will result in plants that are too large to harvest easily with a combine. If seed are to be harvested by cutting and threshing, planting may be done in late March or early April. No fertilizer tests were conducted with hemp, but, from observation of plantings made by farmers near Atmore, Alabama, it is believed that hemp should receive a liberal application of a complete fertilizer such as a 6-8-4 before planting. As soon as the plants are up, it should be top-dressed with 200 to 300 pounds of nitrate of soda or its equivalent. The soil should be thoroughly prepared; if broadcast the seed should be sown at a rate of 30 to 40 pounds per acre. They should be covered lightly with a cultipacker or corrugated roller. Hemp may be planted with a grain drill, in which case the rows should be spaced as close as possible and the seed should be covered not over 31 inch in depth. No cultivation is necessary in broadcast plantings. If hemp is planted in rows, the rows should be 36 to 42 inches apart and the plants spaced 12 to 15 inches in the drill; this will require 5 to 8 pounds of seed per acre. When planted in rows the crop should be cultivated to control weeds. Frequent and shallow cultivation should be continued until the plants are 24 to 32 inches in height, after which they will shade the ground and weeds will not be a problem. Seed may be harvested with a combine if plants are not too large; otherwise hand harvesting followed by threshing will be necessary. EXPERIMENTS with OIL CROPS 23 SAFFLOWER Safflower, Carthamus tinctorius, is an annual, the seed of which contain a valuable oil. It has been grown principally in the western part of the United States. Tests were conducted at Atmore and Auburn to see if this plant offered any possibility for production in Alabama. The tests at Atmore were conducted on very fertile Orangeburg fine sandy loam. The Auburn tests were on Norfolk sandy loam of average fertility. In the tests at Auburn and at Atmore, 800 pounds of superphosphate and 50 pounds of muriate of potash were applied prior to planting. Nitrate of soda was applied as a top-dressing about March 1 at the rate of 225 pounds per acre. The seed were planted in rows 1 foot apart at the rate of 60 pounds per acre. Single-row plots 16 feet long were used. The varieties were replicated from 2 to 4 times. The varieties used and the yields obtained are given in Table 15. It will be noted that the yields were very low. In most instances the plants were very susceptible to several fungus diseases, which were not identified. The results indicate that safflower is not suited for growing under Alabama conditions. TABLE 15. YIELDS OF SAFFLOWER AT MAIN STATION, AND AT ATMORE, 1944. AUBURN, 1943-44, Item 1943 Yield of threshed seed per acre Auburn 1944 1944 Atmore 1944 Pounds 01 Pounds Pounds Pounds 0 0' 108 Selection No. 1 0 0 95 -Selection No. 4 0 0 - ---- 78 R ussian -------------------- ----0 0 68 ---Selection No. 2 0 0 64 ------------------------C om mon .... 0 0 -41 Mandan 0 0 15 Selection No. 3 0 0 Kardir 1082 0 0 ---2 Shalafer No. 1 0 0 . .....-- 2 ........ -........ Simla 66/1508 0 0 --- - 2 Karar 1885 ----------------- ----0 0 2Ahmadagar No. 1 0 0 2 ....Pusa No. 1 ...................... 0 0 --- 2 2--------------- ----Pusa N o. 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Date of Planting Feb. 24 2 Nov. 16 Jan. 25 0 0 Nov. 18 Date of H arvest ----------------------- June 'Killed 2 by cold or by disease. Not planted. 24 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 't -. qt 4 ii y ,s a .Ls l c FIGUR 5.Civ-se ra~- peinnsa ansain Auburn, Alabama. CHIlA Chia- Salt ia hispanica, is a suimmcr-growinig ainnual haxving seed that co)ntain oil. Tests we re condIucted at Auiburn on a Norfolk sandy loam of axverage fcrtility to dectermin ifi the plan t could b~e growxn prof itablx in Alabama. Fertilizcr wxas appliedI at the ratc (if 600 pound~s per acrc, using a (6-S-4 beforc planting. Broadcast and~ dIrill p)laiitingis we re miadlc. The mecthlod of plan ting d4 (ates of plan thig. dates of harve(stinig anilds( arc g4ixe bf elow-. 1942 Broadcast Dinlled. 3 foot rows 1 icldx of th , shed sec'd per acre 19413 19-4 Pounds, Po(1uds 204 P' ouds 34(0 Ma}x 10 Oet 3i 3.30 301 \lay 4 Nov. th IDutc of plnting April 29 Nov. 19 The plants grexx wxell and were not attacked by dijscase; lioxvx sced xvields xwere low.,xxlich ind~icate that thc plant cannot bc 4yroxx'i Profitably in Alabama. P ERILLEA Txvo spccies of perilla. Perilla f rutcsceos and1( Perilla crispa, were grown to determnine if thex had any x aluc for oil produ ctioin in Alalbama. The tests we rc conducted at Aubu~hrn oni a Norfoilk sandly loami of axverage fertilitx . Six hundred poiii (s of a 6-8-4 fertilizer was ap- EXPERIMENTS with OIL CROPS SEED YIcIJ) lx UTWxO Sill lirx 01' PLA\N 1151 AJUURN, TABL. 16. or ici90111 room DIFFEBUST DA\FLs ALABAMA, 1942 -44. 19-rilla Yil Plat cr1ispya I kiii a 11itutescc Years 'own\ i Plainig (late Iarx l esting (dte date 9in lirvest11 daite Pounds 1912 194.3 1944 Max 1t0 October 10( April 29 October 18 \Ia 4 0ctber 1.3 MIai 10) October 101 April1 29 October17 18 \Iax 4 October 13 1.24 95 306 plied prior to plantiiii. Broadcast anid drill plantimt-is we ~re tested. The crop wvas not ab~le to compete wxith wxeedls in the broadc ast plantingtO. BOW s 2 to 3 feet wxide wxere used andi the platnts (Irilled thtilkly in the roxxs. Stitlicient cultix ationi to keep out wxeeds xxas practiced. The plants grex satisfactorily antd wxere not attackedl by disease, hut the x jelds of seed wxere low, Table 16. The xyields do not seem to justify growving~ this plant as an oil crop in Alabamna. FIGURE 6. Perill icIn seed production experiments at Main Stac or, Aubuin, Alabama ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION ~ ~ t . ~ " /J tY4rf FIGURE 7. Se>or b.n i . ic ue Alabama. Left. Sesame at blooming stage. x>. s, in at Main Saio,nAuD-, s Right: Sesame at harvest stage. SE SAM E ()1 B3ENNE Sesame or Benn e, Sesaot moinditnot. is ani annual summer-growing plant grown fottr tihe seed, which usually are imported undt~er the naime of sesame. Thme seedl nua\ 1b used for oil andl are somtuetimfes used on foods. The seed are very palatable and are especially liked by birds. The plant is frequenmtly grown in the South fur lbird feed i under the name of benme. Experinments w5ere conduclited at auburn on a Norfolk sandy loam of as crape fertility . An application of 600 pouunds of 6-84 fertilizer was made prior to planting. Twso varieties, as shown, wsere tested in 1944. Kind Sesame. Ssa~ms. Yield of threshed seed per acre Pounds ----------396 -66 Common Imported EXPERIMENTS with OIL CROPS 27 METHODS OF SEEDING. In this test the common variety of sesame was used. The results were as follows: Item Broadcast-- Yield of threshed seed per acre 1943 1944 Pounds 374 750 April 29 Nov. 19 Pounds 396 Drilled, 8-foot rows Date planted Date harvested -- 276 May 4 Oct. 13 The data show an advantage for drill plantings in 1943 and a slight advantage for broadcast plantings in 1944. No definite conclusions, however, can be drawn from these results. Weeds are usually prevalent, and under such a condition drill plantings are probably prefer- able. DIscussioN. In the experiments sesame was not attacked severely by diseases. The seed shatter easily. In the tests at Auburn, the plants were harvested as early as practical to prevent loss of seed. Sesame does not appear to be especially well suited for commercial production as an oil crop in Alabama because the seed shatter so readily. If a non-shattering variety were available, it might be produced. However, yields in these tests do not appear to be large enough to compete with the higher-yielding oil crops. SUNFLOWER The sunflower, Helianthus annuus, is an annual plant frequently grown for shade and as a flower. The seed are fairly high in oil content, approximately 25 per cent. The seed are edible and are used commonly in chicken feed. The oil is used as a substitute for olive or other edible oils. In Russia the seed are frequently eaten by humans in the manner very similar to peanuts. Experiments with sunflowers were conducted at Auburn on a Norfolk sandy loam of average fertility. The mammoth Russian variety was planted in 42-inch rows. The plants were spaced from 15 to 18 inches apart in the row. Fertilizer was applied prior to planting at a rate of 600 pounds per acre of a 6-8-4. The plants were cultivated sufficiently to keep out weeds. The results were as follows: Year Planting 1941 1942 1943 June 17 June 19 15 Date of Harvest Sept. 18 Oct. 3 Sept. 25 Yield of threshed seed per acre Pounds 1,200 1,992 1,812 -June 28 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION It may be noted that the yields of seed were quite high. This plant appears to be especially well suited to Alabama conditions and might be grown extensively for oil purposes if the price should justify. RECOMMENDATIONS Sunflowers should be planted on fertile, well fertilized soil. They should be planted in rows 36 to 42 inches wide and the plants spaced 12 to 18 inches in the row. To control weeds the crop is cultivated like corn. Weeds will not be a problem after the plants reach a height of 2 to 3 feet. The heads should be harvested when the seed are ripe, cured by storing in a dry place, and then threshed. It might be possible to harvest the seed with a combine, but no attempts were made to use a combine in these tests.