979 , .~ * l a. .4 "~i~ , . ilk '.4' .4,.'. * 4.~ ~ ~*'. ~ ~ 44 '4 4*4 4~ ,~ *1' h A~ J~ F. x <. Ito U , Auburn University A.4 I. 44. ~4% V 4. 1 '4 4 ,,rr Agricultural Experiment Station 1+ , lot T7: AP 6 / 1V (r }1 r .'- , *w I' re U TOP LEFT The wild Pervian tomato is being used in Au- nurn breeding work to provide disease and insect re sistance TOP RIGHT. Nutritional stidies seek answers to health probleis of specific age groups CENTER: Varying the cycles of light and darkness was found to affect egg production BOTTOM LEFT: Auburn-developed labora- tory method provides accurafe measure of grain moisfure content during loading or unloading BOTTOM RIGHT: AU Lotan, new Auburn sericea variefy, proauces forage with low tannin and high feeding value 1' -t I i. .A.'t *1 ~. ~ ', r 0 s; 'P. - a F 9 A 7 BC~C~~ -ia r. i 4:~?: ? ~rc BSA:; , t Director's Comments f~ I A ~ ~Th V I ami pleasedl ttt coim es in this replort a summlilary of thme important re- se(archl andl (lepes ' nilt p)rograml of thle .Alabama Agricultural E'.xp erimment Station dulrin~g 1979. The amdmminis- trators, scientists, and( staff of this Statin hasve a great sense of accom- p~lishiimenlt, but they alsto share a realizatin that there is much more that needs to be d one. lThe people of A\labama has e ev ery reason to be confide(nt that the tax dollars prov ided this unit of higher education bs the Alabama L egislature fr use in colndiictiing the p)rogramis of research in the food and1 agricultural sciences (including forestry ) are uised1 in thme best interest of all produicers and coinsuimiers of food( and fiber, not just farmers. In fact, studies duiring tihe years has e shiorsn that ins est- Mients in agricultiural research by State Agricuilturial Ex perimen11 t Sta- tionis hasve, through appllicationi byX coinimercial agriculture of the ness teclhilology dleNelopedl by research, beein responsible for a rate tif return interest if y ou ssill of approimately 50 plercent anniially. Surely thi s is an outstanding return (even iin a periodI wh len interest rates on bt rrI 155ed iloill' may( exee 15 percent. I loss ev er, just as l5 peircent is excessiv e on borrowsed money (indlica ting an in- adlequiate amount of m~oiney available for borrowving). 50 p~erc'ent is an ex- cessiv e rate of return omn the insvest- mnt iii food and agricultural research (indicating not einouigh mioney is being inv5estedl in this research to (lerive the greatest b~enefit to the insvestors). :Alabama agriculture is a science and~ technolt gx lbasedl sy steis oi(f land andl resource use. Fuitumre progress in agriculture, umore than ever before, wxill depend tui the (dexelollleint of a steadys streaii of ness knowxledge and tnderstanding of the biological, phy'5sical, In(chlanical, ecoiomiiic, and sociall sy steiis of p rodutctioin, tranls- p~ortation, pn ocessing, nlarketing, aind coinsuiiptioin of p~roduicts of the farm and forest, limosations aind imodifi- catitis camn make the sy stemi function iinore effectis ely f or the betteriment of all the pleoplle. Du)tring the forties and fifties, our- sc'ienitists w5eie (l(' elopiing aind farin- ers \\ ere taking advsantalge of tech- intlogies that enabled thlem to benefit fit m an abunmdaunt sup~ly (If c'heal) eniergy andl indhuistrial laibor. Industrial laboi graduaills becamie iiore andl niiom e expeni sis (, buit the big change caiime in thet se'veonties XXw a11 conceI~.rin foi thme q~uality of e'11 irtlumeit became Itc(rpltms ('in il espetcialls bs' those xxith little und~erstandIing otf the bio- logical sx stei m. Duhring the p~ast 10 yea'~rs, agricuilturiial scientists has e had ttt spendl~ an exttibitant aullounit tf tiuine in (defensive( research-pIr(l5ing again iin inew \\ trus xx hat wxas alreadls knowxn, and frequently tt gov ern- iment officials (Ensvironmleintal Prtt- tectiton Agemncy and ( )cimupational Safety aind IHealth :Adiministration) xx Imose trainiing xwas iinadeqtuiate for thmem to uinde(rstand(. Industries hasve had to (hexvote iimore re'soulrces to de- fense (If p~rotducts andl equtiipiment al- re'ady in the miarket than iil (hexveloping ness and impitsed p~rotducts. Nov tssse are faced xx ith eve em o ~tre fotrimatisve challenges in adhdition to the 3 almrcads eistinlg obstacles. W\e iiiist find sx ass of (1) p)roduicing iiore s\ hmile using less energx , (2) (heseloping eiiergx substitutes for pletroleum iiand petro- chemicals, and (83) tiliziing xx hat xx e pr oduice miore' efficiently :Agricultuie iii its hbioadel(st sel's(e the wxise iiai ageiient ouf oiii land amnd wsaters foi pr1odumcinig food, fiber, forest p~rodulicts, \s ildlife, aiid out- (door iecre'atioii is thme lar gest in- luistrx iin \labamia amid the \ation. The econioiiis of this State, Nation, and the xx orld depends oil the v iability' ouf agriculture. Agriculttire's future rests on lite ISSSelI its putiliclx -stil- plorted rese'archl programi is financed and iianaged.l The adin iistrators of the research pr1ograii of the Alabama Agricultuial Expe)(riiie(nt Station pledge to the people oii this State sound iilaiagemiieit of an iiinovatis I (esearch p~ro graml. It is the responsi- bilits of the p~eop~le of this state to pro side the support needled to miaintainm a iesearch base adeqpuate to iieet thle con~tinuinig (challenge of the( biological xx orld and the ness challenges of an eniergy slota ~ge' T'his repot lt is p~re'sente'd to pr)5 idl( an ox ers messr of' the kind of re'searchl in xx hich the :Alabaima .Agricuiltural I'- l)('imel'it Station is ('igagedl. As D irector, I xx mild( xx elcoicie n op)111r- ttinity to expllain any alspetcts of the programn of thle AFS and \\ hat it can (It for the I)('tle('of Alabama. 4 . ,,,a ,4$an IT I t Completion of new buildings at the Solon Dixon Forestry Educatior Center, near Andalisia, provides ideal facilities for forestry and wiid life teaching and research Among the new buildings are the dining hall and dormitory (left photoi and the staff house, Charles Dixon Audi torium and dormifories e n low) .,-~ ~ b '4 Highlighting Work of Research Operations irF " j E#1kFI ( . LEFT' The 200 acres of old pecan trees at the Turnip- seed-Ikenberry Place are being ised in studies on re- storing old, neglected pecan orcharos to production ABOVE Poiltry research capabilities were improved by add tion of a modern isotope lab at the Pouitry Annex --t -C- 111 ~ I~ ii I P i% i : 1 ,-rL iL~ . J L r" -F - "T i "~ r ~ -- '- "--~~g~ i ii" ,: a;i 7\10~ -r*n 1 L~J I,-;; Alabama's important peanut industry will be served by the new Foundation Peanut Seed Facility at the Wiregrass Substation. lDexelopuient of facilities at the nexx Solon D~ixon F'orestrx Education Center, near Andaluisia, vv as a mlajor thrust of 1979 xx ork by the D epartmnent of Rlesearch Oper ations. Sexven nexx huiildiings xx ere comp 1 leted, the old D~ixon home xx as reno- yated, and xx alks, dcliyexax s and parking areas xx crc coiistrnicted, making thle nexx (,'enter read} hor use ini forestrx and xx ild- life teachiig andic research prograi s. 'The nexx facilitx . xxhich includes some :3,0 tacr Oes of tiuiilbirland, xx as made pbossi- ble by gifts from lDr. and \lrs. Solon Dixon and \Irs. Tlhelia D~ixon, all of Andaluisia, to Auibuirn I. iixersitx. Facilities at the Cen- ter iiincle do'rmiitories, (lining hall, and a classroom-auiditorium for students, haousinlg foi the te aching facultx vx hlie con- dllcting sumiiier courses, .supierintendlent's hoi ie, ii achin ery shed, and the old i)ixon hoi le, xx I icli serxvex as litbrarx and ii in xcuui. "I~h forest laid p(rov(ixides tile ha sic natural resources needed forbo)th teaching and res ea rch ii hire strx and cIxxilcdlife Ndearness of the C enter to forest lands ii anagecd bx the Federal govex rnm len t andc also piv xate corpoiriationl lands idids to the uiniquieiness of1 the facilitx. O thei I acilitx i uipiox ellents diiriing the xyear iiichicied both nexx coinstriictioni aind renoxvati on a nd upgradinbg of exis tin g buiilcdiings at thle miain caiillrus. These addi- tionis shiuld signiticaintlx iiipro ixe the capab ili tx fo r research in cetin field s h the Agriciiltiiral Expeirimient Station. Poiiltrx science facilities xx ere uip- grade bcih ad dinig a cage hon xe and b roile r huse at the ncxx Pioiltiy Research Unit anid renovxation o)1 the Pouiltry Ax . 'the renoxvation addiedl a miodicern isotopme lb and pleasant ofices fori poiultrx phxsiol- iigx research at the Aunnex. A new cage house and broiler house added to the Poultry Research Unit at the Main Campus make possible expanded research. j ,, )o ra C:oiiltion~ of the Sxx me Phx'siologx Lab Aiiiex and renox atiion iif the Meats Laboratoiy xxxill make p)ossible expanded meat aiiual research by the D~epartiient of Ai inial anid D ai rx Sciences. T[he annex to the Phi siologN Lab xx ill serxve as a siip- po rt facilit x foi r the Ph} s ii 1 gx Lab ainid pro xidie hold ing space fo ir an i iiiats cluring pre opleratixve and post-operatixe eriodcs. XX orking and storagce areas of the \leats Labomratorx xxcrc nodcerniziecd amnd addci- tionuai space xxyas pro iciecd. A sales roonm xxyas added, xx hich xx ill provide an outlet iir all saleable prodictes fromii research. A lix estock brieeding barn buiilt fori se, of the D ep artimiint of Animi al Ii cal tt rep re- senits an iimupo rtan t actditiomn toi th at dIe- Alabaiias peanut prouiciig regiion xx ill be serxved bx the nexx Founcdatio~n Pea- n ut Seedc Fa cit it that xx as co11p1le ted inm 1979. Locateci at the \1 iregrass Substationii in the heart oft thle peanut grmmxxing area, at le adlIandI the facilitx xx ill a ssiure that pea- nut grmxxers caii get top 1 gnualitx seed, a big nee fol ir mo st proifitablIe prodciict io n. TIhe ncxx facilitN xx ill be opewra ted t)\ the Alai lallia Cio ii) illrux cilent Association. Ciontinuecd iuipriix enients to the Tuir- nillxeect- kenberrx P~lace, a 1(126-acre unit that xx as donated ton the Agricultural E xperiiient Station in 1976, haxve imi provced the iitilitx of this area for pecan re- seaircli. Al though tihe mnaliri tx of acreagce is in tillbieir, there are abiouit 200t acres of olci pecan trees that rep~resent a x aliiabli resource fori studic n bg uliettiocs and cii nomiics of restoin bg old, neglected pecani orchards to piroiductio~n. Cuirrent research is on n insct amid cliseasec con tirol andi p rohit lemus assoiatecd xxitti alter nate-x car pr ocdiction. ABOVE: New sales room serves as ai outlet for saleable researcn products. BOTTOM: Annex to Swine Physiology Lab provides holding space during pre-and post-ope ative pe riods. s a:--- it #y , E .. :.J4 4 -- /t - ANIMAL AND D)AIRY SCIENCES Production of Fuels and Animal Feed from Biomass LIn reseairch oni priodutin of liqid fuels byx fermlenitation of sulgars ill agrinmici1 crops5 and1( NN 0(1 efficienit cin eri xiii of good11 sugar to alcoho haiiills hbeen aciit (d Vt ithl an0 organlisml isolatted froiii (itulili- poising good1(. In addiin to alicolhol for fuel, the organlisml alsii proiduces piituini xx hiuh has \a11w as5 an~imlll feed. Theu 1'.S. IDepartmnent of Energx is supp~jorinig thw fieels project. xx hiuh is tcioi)(latiXe cIon-ii dulctedl b) the IDupartiieiit of Animial and I airx Sti ences and( the Uepa rtlet ofi Che~ical E((1 ngineerin g. T he (Grants and11 Contitracts O)ffice of Aiuurn I nix ursits is currenthx stuldyXing ft potssililtX oif pait- enlting tile miuro)irgailisin usedl in ft Aui- hiurn~ fiuels plrojuect Relationship of D)iet to Cholesterol S tud~ies in iolur biicheiistry labora11tiories 1ind1ica tedl that rats fed a raltio(n hiigih ini soy belno(il xx ith 0.5a percen~t chlesllteroil lie- polsitedi more fat 11nd ciholesteriol in the healirt th an rats fed a1 higlar d11 ieit conin Il- ing 0t5 plercent c11(11esterol PiI retrelltmnit of }dung, wxeainling rats wxithi ff5 p~ecti cholesterol increaised tile tiilerance tii cholesterol aifter 5x veeks. Since thw norlla sx nthesis ill tilt illdl sulppilies aboulit txo o- thirdls o f tihe tlailx choilesturol, capioni shouildl he exe\rcisetd inl ruci 11111111fillg radlical ailteraltiolns (If the diet fur tile gel- erl popuilation. Exotic Crosses Hav e Merit Thiere xx as a10 ax erage difference iii ijijlinilteX 42 Ilound~ts ier calf lit xx (11- ilig ini fax or iif the Linliisiil-siredi caixes out iif I ereford anti Herefoird x iigiis- H erefiitrdx o s xx len cinparedl to (Ilx us out iif siiiilar colve s siredi iby Herefoird flls. Thlis dlifference wxas ilili I I poundils xx hen1 the clix us xx ere (lit oIf Charolais .x HeIrefiird or ChIariilais x Angiis colws . Finlishling the crossbred steers oni a gira/log and11 feedling sx stem~ toolk I1f9 (lax longer thiin fiinishing in the feetdlot. ITlire xxere no( maljor dtiffereunces in carcass tralits. Efficiency of Lagoon System IDuring 46 mionths olf hi lionthiX moii tioring of xx lstexxater dlfaity in ai txxo-Istage laigooin sxstem, tile ax erlige iixerail re- duiitiiin (If pollutanlt concieintraitiolis xxas gleaiter thin 9f0 perttent folr 6 (If ii poliu- tanits moiinitolred. ('sinig rutciced 55 lste- xx ater fiont the secodlilary laglilin iiir clean11inlg a free sftal1 barn tid tno t afifuc t thle xwaste trlitlluit efficienlcy of the lagooii SN'sterl. Swxine Breeding illteracutio 10betxx eell genoitype liiid peni deinsity (8 iir 16 pigs per plen) xxert foiiid ini \ihiirii sxx me research. Interactioins xx tre notetd ftir aixeralge (llail gin and( leani tis- sue groxxtii rate, xx hich rtsultetd in siginif- itaint chanilges in ranokings (If sire groups for tile txxo penul densities. This has miajor l apli- catitin tol proigelnx tests, suiggestling thalt prolgeny tests should be iundertakten oInlx ill penl densities ulnder xx hich till future purogeny xxgiill b grt n. 6 Using recycled wastewater from the second- ary lagoon for cleaning a free sfall barn did not attect this lagoon system's etticiency. Estrus Synchrnmizing A 1 gent for Swine Rllmiiiate, all estills s} lcliroiiig agent for sx iiit. xx as stuiedul in our1 phfi 511) iogx labioraltories. All treatedi gilts rturnied toi estr 1I tol 6 (LX .s after %x ithtlrax al of file (ollllldt \ni harmfutil effects xx er ntedl( fiii ox iilaiim lt t conceptionl rate, p)1esenlce of tx ,fiu follicles. or nuiiiier of abno1 rmail pigs. The results suggest that the prodi~uct is salfe and1 could( he recom-l mendedil( for uise folhlxx jog FDA aprox al. Limousin-sired calves from English cross cows grew faster fnan calves from similar cows sired by Hereford bulls. ,r .;"..C. .. r . Yolk,.'lk. , ~.1 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND RURAL SOCIOLOGY Estate Planning a Big Need Lacitk of adett'et t'state plairiniiig xx (i aippairent in firitings of at srr t'of 2f-1 A la- hbaria fariners. Retsuilts indicated :39 per- cent field their p~ropetrtx in joint oxxnersfiip xx itli right of stirx ixorsliip xx itfi the xx ife. 'I'hose fannrers xw on appair'itlx usilig tis mietfiod of oxx rirslif in lieu of a xx ill sitce less thani 4ff percent of themr had jiiepaied xx ills. ''eii pertce'nt (of t'e resos nden'lts opetraite'd their farims as jpartniershiijs. Leoss thiain half oif thteste hiait tdrafted xx ills airid onlxy txxo( hiait rused thet pa rtnetrsh ill arra igo- iielit (is anl testaitt' planning tool. fT'e srvext'xed farrnetrs sruffered froiii an almo i st to tail lack of awxaIrt'iness (of oxstate pl1anrniiin g. O n l 5 pertent hadt a ttendledl xxorikshiops on estate planriig (ind ornlx 12 jpe'rtcent hadit reatd any scxtatt' p lanii n ig jpil) litcations. Also. oinly a smialil propiorrtioir fhad heeni reacthetd thirorighi et'e'rsionr conuiir i- Farm Land Market and Influences Agricurltuire represents tht riajor rm arkt for ruiral landl in the Limeitstone Soil llegioin of Alarma. An Aurhurn srvxex foriiid tfiat iiearIxli half of purirchiases (47 peorcenlt) xx re for farming an11(1or hoimit aind farriiig. polltanit, xx it ifonriie anid sjpec'ulationi be'inig reasonIls for prch'fase( iii 18 aniit 21 p ercen t of the transactions. rt'sjpe'ttixvel. Sixt sx \portent (If thit tracts soft 1 xx re oxxnict for 1ff xyears or less, xxhfilt' 54 per- cent xx ere oxx ned fo~r .5 xears or less. Almiost half of the putrchases xxere for plropelrty at- jacent to existinlg hioldings, idicatinig the IIiijpo rtanlce (If ex\parlding farin ize.~ Significant factiors in exp 1( lininig theo x arlitioni in fper acre x aluit of rurl prop-(j ertx xx ore llcaitionl relatixe t' firtis (If 2.5,ff ffor snre porpu(~lati on. xvalue o0(f rt'si - dItlltial imril rtl Cii lts, fpresenc it'oif p ayx d roadit fronitage, p rese'nce' of ti i rr i i iits xx (tt'r lines, and tract size. TY r Marketing of Soybeans Petrsonial iterx less s x ith mlanagers ofi ftermuinal t'lt'xators idlentifietd thetst factors 15(1 in settinig spot p~rices: (1) local, du- nic(stit, and( ex~port r arketings: (2) cost of freight fronti coulntry tol termoinal elex ators: (:3) the suple oIf soy beans at coirntrx clh yators: aind (4) the plredictedl x alue of sox foaris for resale ais plrocess~ed plroduc~ts. In the 1977 ruarketing yeoar, 2:3 percent of tit sos beaus \\ ere sold on the spot imarket, 37 percent xx ore .sold by different pr1iciiit .igreeioeiits. and 4f0 perce~nt ibx fol xxr coniltractinig. LeAgal Knowsledge of Farmers Ani interx iexw wxith 202 rand ik ill, l- ed full-time farmers in fixve predorriiuatolx aigriculltulral areas concerning their kroxx- ties inictedttt a need foi mnore legal iif or- 111(1ti oi in m ost of the 1.3 sub jeoct area, coxvered. Generallxy, they 'were most knoxx ledgeahie about mineral rights and1 negligence. Least knoxx ledge xx as ini- caited in the areais of offers, employees, and estate fllannling. Little difference in knoxx ledge xx as founrd bx age lexvel or farm size classifi- ca tion. As educia tio nal lex-el and in comeit iintreased, hoxxever, there xwas (in increaise in correct resp~onses. C:hrstmas Tree Use Moh st Al abam inians haxve a Chiristmalos tree in their hiomoe (luring the holiday season, but store than half of these aire artificial trees. Rturrns from a ma~iletd srvxey in nearly all Alahamna tounties ind~icatetd that 85 percent of resitdents used a Christmas tree. O f the risers, 60 percent had airtificiail trees, 2.5 percent plurthased tcut trees, andl 15 percent cut their mxxn trees ait no tost. Artificial tree users xwere generaill satis- fied wxith their trees andl continuetd to use tharn for sce ral x ears. 'The mlost polpulair species of cut trees xx ere eaistern retd cedar, spruce, antd scotch pine. Abouit txx o-thirtis of the plurchiasetd trees xx ere hetxx ee 6 ad7fetihig . N \ ~. -~-~ i.. -~. Wide price ranges for broiler parts were found in a study ifl Alabama grocery stores. Broiler Prices Vary Va(riablilitx charatcterized the advlertisedl prite of frx er and frxyer parts among eight Alahamia grocers stores tduring the 1975-77 petriod. '[he xx idltst rainge' xxas in prices for tdrumsticks for xx lich thtere xx as a 920 per~ jpiiiurd d if ferencte hot x ten hiigh antd lii xx lir breasts aiid thighs, the ranges xxere 90c' and1( 62e per pound1,( resplectixvely Tlhe smlile~st rarigte xx (s for xwhole frxyers, :33c 'The highest xxeighted axerage adtvxer- tisetd price xx as for thighs at 84.4c' per pround.t In tdescending ortder, p~rices pe poundit for other forms of fry ers xwere: dr ursticks, 7 7.7c breasts, 76.7C'; xx hole split frs ers, 58.1e, and1( xx-hole fry ers, 54.7c. V ariahilitx iin adve (rtisedl prices xxeas not f ouind to he rt'lated to size of city in wxhich ai stiore xx (s loca((ted. Price D~iscoxvery and Marketing Methods P~eanrit an1d( soy bean groxwers havxe the gre'at('st numbei~tr of iiiarket outlets axvail abhle, xxhile cotton groxxers rise the smnallest numiiier of selling points. 1 lf the soybean ,iiid one-'thiirtd of the corn and peanrit groxx ers xxere foriid to uitilize cooperatixves iin mairkt'ting their crop~s. Less than half the fi i ie rs repoi rted rrsinrg ainx f orri of stor- ige. 'Tfose xx ho forxxa(rd tontratted plart orall of their plroduclttioni receixved higher Peanut and soybean growers have more available markets than producers of other comm odit ies 7 i s i Soy bean growxers wxith large acreages utilized forxx ard contracts and storage more frequently, were willing to trax el greater distances to market, and obtainedI higher axverage prices than grove ers xx ifli small acreages. Input costs and expected cash prices at harxvest wxere tdoiiinant fac- tors in all operators' protduction planniing decisions. Economic Development Supported Economic dcevelopinent and the atti- tides of leaders and household respon- dents xwere studied in an eight-county area of Alabama's section of the Tennessee- Tlomibigbee WXaterwxay . !Major findiings indicate a general supp~lort for rural iinduis- trialization templered by broad based res- erv'ations about enxvironmiental dleterio- ration and associated health risks. A leader surx ey identified sexvera] p~roblematic organizatioinal issues in- x'ol ing the rural dexvelopinent commiiittee. Black leaders exp~ressed greater concern oxver emlploy ment issues, wxhile wxhite leaders emphasizedl the fiscal impacts of industrial growxth. Mlost leaders expected the xwaterxway to hav e plositiv e effects on their countx. AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Low Energy Pond Aeration flaxtime stirring -inlsteadl of inighttiiie splashing, spraying, or bubbliing can satisfy a fish pond's aeration needls xwith only a low electric poxwer input. 'Twxo paddlewxheels, designed at Auburn, re- qutire only 65 xwatts each to keepl wxater iiioxing in a 1,4-acre pond. As the wxater movex's it mixes oxy gen-rich surface xx aters xwith the oxy gen-poor xx ater at a lowyer lexvel. Mlore importantly, the dax time stirring cxvens out xxater temuperature so that as night tempewratuires (0o1 the xx te surface the top xxater sinks to the pond bot- tom. This increases the wi oter's oxygen content at that lev el. Farm Machinery Reliability Examined A 3-x ear studx to examine farii ma- chinery reliability is currently in progres. Its mlajor pulrpose' is to dtlt'ftint the fre- qu ieincy, duration , and Ipr(obab1) I cauIise (If farm imachinerx breakdownxis. 'IThest' dIato xxill be correlated accordiing to total hoiurs of use or acres coxvered, soil txype, farm sizc. and crops g~rowxn. Results fromi this studlx xxill he useful to indliv idual fariiers, as they plan for effectixve and efficient imachinery iutilization. Producing Cotton xvith Minimm Energy A imiinii 111m tillage, cotolldI traffic xsysteim for double-cropp~ing (If cottonl and1 reseeding criinson clox er offers good xyields and energy saxvings. In the fall oIf 1975, crimlson cloxver xx as seeded and has reseededi itself each year since. Each spring after the cloxver seed are mlatuire (May I-Max 20) cotton is plalnted ill thle clox cr residue is allowxed to re'malin tol tin' stirface as a mlch until cultix Otiont is nlecessxary for control of grass and xx cccl. Foulr-year results indicate that cttoln c'an1 be pIrolducetd in a crimisoln clover stubiblt' xxithotllt loss of y ields. Not o~nly dotes tih' no-ltill xsystemi reduce tillage requiirt'uents, buit the clovecr furnishes nitrolgen tol replace commlilercial niitrolgenl fertilizer for an addi- titonall petroleuim saving. Animal Waste Disposal and Utilization Exvalutation (If muitlti-cellI ala('roibic lagoo~n xsystemis emploxying recycled xxaistt'- xxatt'r for fltishing lixvestock prodtuictiont facilities shtlxxetl more prolbl'msl xx itll xxx ilt' than xxith dairy . Findings (If a netarly comple 1 1t'te laboratorx andI field scale' studyl for sxxite xxaste included: (1) Salt buildulp in lagootn suplernatant is a seriouts p~robIlemi fo~r xxxinc xxaste, hut nott for dairy xx aste. (2) Lagootn sulpernatant relilcoxal xxill be cc- qiuired for Southeastern climates at tre- tqut'nt inltervals (2 to 4 months). (3) Paltho- gt'n suirx)xval is not a prolblemi protIXided lagoont (dete'ntion time is greater thanl 32 daysx. (4I) Lagoon life (first cell) is applro~xi- mlyltI 6 y ears for xxxine xxaste loatded a~t X SAL, recomm~llendled rates (ap11pro xi- llatt'lx 8 x ears for settled dairs xxaste' Iloded at ASAEF rates). 'The mi ajor problemn f or salt buildup111 xxith xxxime xwaste' xxas in thlt effects fthix salt has on land ap~plication antI pumpl[ing equip[mienlt The Il'sel of salts did nott inter- ft'rt' xxith mlicrobial lagoon pe'rfolrmlance as miass baIantt's oIf solids showxxetd no( inhlibi- tory t'ffects. The mnajolr limnitaltion xx ill be ill lan~d alp1plicationl bec'au se high sal toIlnct'en- trationi cant st'rtiusly affect soil te'xture andt crop I p erfoInriance. MIajo t p rolemt'Ils ill pumpI ~ing eqjuipment'lt is causi bt't Isaslt imltlers. ('leaning of the pumpsiI) exvtrx 2-3 mo1nl~ths antI rt'place'm en t tif sulc tionl p ipt' each s car is rt'qutiretd. No p~rolems'i oIf this tnaturt' xxert' fiolntd xxith dlairy xxastt' 8 yields than non-irrigated or sprinkler- Irrigated trees of the Cape Fear variety. A nexx project just getting iinderxx ax is inve'sti gatin g im eth ods oIf u sing agricuiltu ral xxastes to advantage. Mlethods be'ing tried include (1) energx pr(oduction through aaellroblic digestion for on-farin aplplica- thrnough the grllxxth of ilirtlalgae that can Ie ItuIsedl as a feed'( in gred(ienlt, and1( (3) dIirecf re'fe'teding olf ftle screerned flushed xxast' frotil aiiial productiotli laits. Special TIillage Problems Studied Somtet of tilt tillge' tmanage'menet prob- Itemso thlat fartme trs face xxi th Co(astall Plaits and B( ilack Blt sil s (If AlabamIia art' being afftacked'( in ji int studit's b x the Agri ciiItu ralI Expe~trimen'it Staltioni, V.Slj A Soil and W\ater Reearch I. nit, antId the N ationual 'l'iIloage \lacliltrx Labolratorx. M any xCoiastal Plains soils havxe sandyt ftoIpsolIs iunderlaid xxi th clayecy sub soils, ani d thlt'sx tt'n d toI be drough tx and ctoil- pa0ct easily . Itecihniqiies arc being de- x ttlp'ed tol predict and determline if a solil's aati lable mi(lxtu re fo r crtp use list' be~ it ince ase and ~l its co1111pactibility (It' top 1 sl. MIethods (If creating ideal mlixtuires For1 ft'e Black Belt stils-thosle that t'xp~and and1( contract dtiring xxetting and drying the af i is tillage macl..hinters aind 11111 agI 'h ('lt xxyste'mis that utilizye tht' soils' ab i lity xo bulck sho(t' to Id(exvelop a set'dbed is tol protdlce' anid mintaiin a simalll bed or xx idet ridlge iln the fall so the bed to~ps xxoultd 'Ibuckshlo t' anidt settlt' tI iing thle xxilnt('r. H ixx cropsI xxolluld be plan10ted on the per- rt 0 t' t betd tips. 15wx hich xxoutld aid xi rface dnai~gt', conlltrolI run111ff, and redutce ceros1illn. Earlier 111antinug xxwIould be p~er- tiitte'd and less tillage energy xxul h11( e Accuracy in Mleasuring Grain Moisture An automated sxysteim of determiiniiig grain Iioiisture co~nte'nt is beiing dev5elped at Xub urn as an aidc in ii arke tin g.Xmi accu- rate nmeasurenient of the mistiire is needed at selling time to airriN e at at fair price for the actual drx material being sol1d. Tlhe present iinethioid of iiieaxiriiig miis- ture conitent is puilliiig at xamiiple froii ,variouis locations ini the graini aiid takiiig mioisture content readings wxith aii ioistuire itieter. In contrast, the iiexs Auburn sxx stein wxiil auitomnatically iioniitor mioistiire con-i tent as grain is b~ei ng loaidiedi ior uini ladedI. The system is composiied (if at imoistiire miieter, a microprocessor, and at I F( \\ riter to record the iioistiire readings on paiper. Increaxing the mmiiiber of readinmgs gix ex at better ideai o)1 moiitii coniitenit aiid off1er s the b mixer and xelleir iimoire acciurate mmeasure of actual cirx iiateirial that is ibeinig manketec. D~rip Irrigation Aids Pecan Production Pecan treex in) the sxth groxx ing xeaxon xhuixx cit apoisitix e responsixe tio irrigatioin, The best x ieldx for the Capce Fear x arietx, 1,360 pioiiics peraicre, xx ere obtained from at drip irrigation treaitmient that xx as tumrnecd on and off by at soil mioistuire mietei. Bx cuiipairisiin, the iioii-ii rigatedi trees pio- duicecd 4:30 poiincdx per aiere. Spriinkliei iriigation prodcined the largest tirees, huot yielcd xxas onlx 7701 pouinds per acire. Sprinkler results indicate that too mucmh x'egetatiion and cdelayed fluoxwer forinationi xxili redcie production. (C ooperativ e pro ject xx itli Department of I oirticiiltiiie.) No-till cotton following crimson clover pro- duiced good yields with low energy oditlay. 'F_.; I't 1 -- '- ,nvl j AGRONOMY AND SOILS D~eep Incorporated Lime Better Sin ce mos t XAlab ami a si ls are' acid, crimp y ields generally can he iinprovecd by apply ing lime to the scuil surface. B~ut incor- porating limie intii the siibsoil giv es ex m'i snire benefit. D eep limiie in cirpoi ratiioin leads tii increases in cdcpth iif rimitimig, siiil xx atc'r c'xtraction, and pilant heightx, there- Ib boioiiting crimp x ielcds. In c'ittiii stiudii', xic'lcd imprmseiiicnts frm mii mie iniic',ece xx ith udepth oif incorporatiomn tii 12 inuches. Imncirpoa ratinug ti i a dep~thm of 185i iche id'li nut iiiprme xielcds iixver 12-imuch imiciir- poiration. Mlarketable sxx ret p)otato yields in- creased and cull v ieilds decreased ixs xlii- solil p 1 l1 increaised. Mlarketable xyields per acre v aried from 7,380 pounds at 4.7 xiib- xoil pi 1 tom 27,580 pouindx at 6.0 siilbxiil 1)1I. In o th er liiime resxearch, liiime xlu rry pox ed to be ino better than dry liniie fur ise on acid xsoils. Thix finding xx ax inl cin - trast to claiiis that rates of the lime sliirry Ii ixer thaii for dry lime xxomlcl be ade- iquate. lIistead, the lossver rate used ion far- imers' fields failed to raise pH to the desired level, and peanlit yields xxerc loxx er thtan xxheii the recimniended rate of dryx lime xx ax used. TIhe linuie slurry contains onlx 50) percen t finchy ground li mestonme ( almos it half is xxater), xxhich explainx xx li the full rate xx oild be needed to adlequatelx neii tiralize acid xioilx. hImprox ing Weed Control Po ten tialI imiipros ei en tx in cro p xx eed con troli founnd in A ub urn rexearch co ncern antidoite addcitis thaut make effectix e hiembicidles xafe to use, at herbicicde comiibi- iiationi that biiists x filcd xxbile coiitrollinug ciock lebuIir, and plIan tin g in narro\\x ri\ sx to take ads antage of crop coupetitis emuess against xx cccl. 'lxx. oof the ethoxy latecd aliphaitic chbeiii icalx triedc ax antidotes improvesac ~fety of ictribuizin (Lexsone, Sencor), at herbicidec thuat is hiigl xcf fectisve againsxt sick I 'p ic but xx hich often cauisex sox bean) cdamuage oni coarusi' tixture 1 d soils hi x i in ogaiiii iuatteri. 13c'xults alxsi xxere goodl xxhc lien- xieed iiil ori siixb'aii iiil xx ax xubstituiticd liii parut ofi thie anutidotc' chiemical biemor' acdc- ung tii fouimiiilatc'c mictribiuzin. Sicklipiod conmtroml xx ax excell'nt or) fiiii saiucl txp soils. Coucklecbui r, another toui gh s(oxy11 an xx cc'c pest, iimas bc' controlled bx- a ie'sx hierbicide' becnazolin, at raitex as Ii ix as 2 iiiincei' pci acre, rexsilts of anoithecr text iiici- cati'. Injiiry to soybeans has been slight tii muodeirati' frmi bcnazoilin ailone, bit in- jiiy i t s ri'cucc'c and x ielcd inicre'ase'd bux uisiiig at tank mix iif benaoliu xx itli ibeita- ,in (iBa sa gran). A xyiclcd iiicreasxe frini thec t~iiik Iiix, aiiiounting to 7 buxhc'lx pc'r acrc', x,ixs iobtauini'c in a study in xx ich xxeec'ds xx re iiot at 5ariable. Thux, the c'hecmical conuiubinuatiion xhoixxs the potential fiii in- cri'asing xiix tu }Mai elcl ax xx cll ax proiiig i' 'ci'lIen't co ck lebui r c onitroil. \\ec''c suippre'ssioni of narroxx-iiix pea- iiits aid soxbc'anx incdicated poteintial xx eecd ciiitrol froiin cloxc' roxx xspacing. Sox- lhm'ai ' in 10t-iuch rioies hadI li's" s~ ee tioli- He11 thiaiu beanis in 30-inch iixx s at all pilant- iug dates tied. N'arroxx iroxx x ields xxeiii e'qual to 3(1 inch riis froii i'arlx MIax planinugs, ancd higher if planutedc in laite line. I'i'ianuts gio iix i in 12-iiichi riixx x inili I0- 20 pic ieit miiiri' iiihlled'c pieauits tlii xxhlen 36-inichi roex xx idtli xx as isied. \exx Seriea Released A t Loitan, an iiircixd c'l a rie'tx iof sei'cc'a lc'xpc'chea just re'lc'axc'c bs thic Xgri- cuilturail E'xpc'rimecnt Statiin i i truic liss \1 ithi 50 ii( icit Lxxs t,uiinx forige itA (' Laitnm is higher in cligc'stiblc' crx niaitter, xx hick mieansx it has highe'r fc'e'cing s-alue thiani a a