Broiler
Litter
on Cotton
Yield results from three years
studies at two locations in Alabama
indicate that broiler litter can be used
as an alternative source of fertilizer N
on cotton.
Dry conditions in 1993 at the E.V.
Smith Research Center (EVS), Shorter,
resulted in no significant yield differ-
ences due to broiler litter or fertilizer
N treatment after three years of an-
nual applications. Dramatic yield re-
sponses were observed in 1991 and
1992 from broiler litter treatments as
high as four tons per acre.
The same yield trends were ob-
served at the Tennessee Valley Sub-
station (TVS), Belle Mina, in 1990-1992.
Responses to fertilizer N may be less
in dry years than in wet years, and
this was the case in 1993. Broiler litter
can be applied at or just prior to plant-
ing, based on the total N in the broiler
litter.
After three years of continuous
broiler litter, rank cotton growth might
be expected on treatments receiving
as much as four tons litter per acre per
year [240 pounds total nitrogen (N)
per acre per year], but was not ob-
served in these tests.
Pix may be
useful in wet
years, such as
1992, to control
excessive vegeta-
tive growth but is
not effective in
drier years. Un-
fortunately, no
one can predict
when July and
August will be
wet. A commonly
used rule of thumb
RESEARCH UPDATE
1994
COTTON
SEEDCOTTON YIELDS AT TENNESSEE VALLEY SUBSTATION AND E.V. SMrTH RESEARCH CENTER
Location and seedcotton yield
Nitrogen Total N TVS EVS
sourcel Pix
2  
applied 3-yr avg. 1993 3-yr 
avg.
lb./ac./yr.
None...
. . . . ... 
no 0 1,730 1,900 1,600
A.N .............. no 60 2,420 2,090 2,170
A.N. ......... yes 60 2,530 2,150 2,210
A.N .............. no 120 2,800 2,160 2,410
A.N. ......... yes 120 2,880 1,900 2,450
B.L. ......... no 120 2,660 1,980 2,170
B.L. ......... yes 120 2,650 1,950 2,170
B.L. ......... no 180 2,140 2,270 2,330
B.L. ......... yes 180 2,850 2,150 2,570
B.L. ............. no 240 2,890 1,880 2,520
B.L ............. yes 240 2,130 2,200 2,610
1 BL = broiler litter, AN = ammonium nitrate.
2 PIX applied 
for three years.
is that a ton of broiler litter contains
about 60 pounds of N of which about
two-thirds, or 40 pounds N 
per ton,
will be available to this year's crop.
Therefore, a cotton crop requiring 120
pounds of fertilizer N per acre on
sandy soils, such as those at EVS,
would need three tons broiler litter
per acre (180 pounds total N). This
rate appears to be near the optimum
rate at both TVS and EVS over the
three-year study.
Additional tests are being con-
ducted on the sites to determine po-
tential soil N lost through leaching
from broiler litter applications.
C.C. Mitchell, C.W. Wood, and C.H. Burmester
Foliar-applied K
Not Effective
in 1993
Foliar-applied potassium (K) as
KNO
3 
did not increase cotton yields
at five locations in 1993. The same test
in 1992 resulted in a positive yield
response to foliar K at two of the five
locations.
Plots in an experiment labeled the
Rates of N, P, and K experiment were
split, with half of each plot receiving
continued on page 5
~Aemm~1 .l' Api i] :1TURA EXPE IMENTA STio AUBURNw~'Ii' UIVES ITY
Old Rotation Documents Sustainable
Cotton Production
America's oldest, continuous index is calculated from all the in- The Old Rotation 
experiment,
cotton experiment, the Old Rota- puts of a cropping system and the which was started in 1896, includes
tion at Auburn University, was costs of those inputs and all the different rotations of cotton with
selected by the corn, soybeans, small
Rockefeller Foundation grains and winter legumes
to measure and docu- (crimson clover and vetch).
ment the sustainability Three of the continuous cot-
of cotton production. ton systems were ana-
Information on the lyzed in this study: (1) no
Old Rotation was pre- legumes and no fertilizer
sented at a symposium nitrogen (N), (2) winter le-
held in 1993 at the , gume N, and (3) fertilizer
Rothamsted Experiment N only (120 pounds N per
Station in England. acre per year as ammo-
The challenge pre- nium nitrate).
sented by the The output index is
Rockefeller Foundation simple to calculate. It's the
was, "How do you mea- v, yield of cotton lint and seed
sure sustainability?" and the price received for
The agricultural com- each product. Input mea-
munity is concerned .,.. * surements are more com-
about the world's abil- - ' ,g plicated. They include seed
ity to sustain agricul- j and fertilizer, pesticides,
tural production for fu- arvest and ginning costs,
ture generations. The m achinery costs, fuel and
challenge of sustainable ,. labor (see table).
production is to main- 44 VI Externalities also were
tain or enhance agricul- ;4 4 factored into the TFP mea-
tural production, reduce ,ure of sustainability.
the level of production These are inputs with indi-
risk, protect the natural . rect costs, such as soil ero-
resource base (i.e. soil) sion associated with each
and the environment, be cropping system and the
economically viable for otential off-site costs of us-
the farmer, and be so- ing pesticides (damage to
cially acceptable. 'environment, human
No one has devel- health, etc.). Externalities
oped a simple way to are difficult to quantify.
quantify all these at- Values based on previous
tributes of a cropping system. outputs and the value of those out- research were used as references in
However, the AAES, with the sup- puts [TFP= (output index)/(input in- the calculations.
port of the Rockefeller Foundation dex)]. Using 1990 as a reference point to
and the long-term records of If the index is greater than 1.0, the compare trends in TFP, the figure
Alabama's Old Rotation experi- amount of output produced per unit illustrates no constant trend in TFP or
ment at Auburn has measured of input is increasing over time and sustainability. The treatment using
sustainability of continuous cot- the system can be considered sustain- fertilizer N did not begin until 1956.
ton production using the concept able. With input and output data for There have been periods (1900-1925
of total factor productivity (TFP). the Old Rotation back to 1896, trends and 1965-1980) when productivity
TFP generates an index that al- in TFP over almost a century of con- was declining in all systems.
lows comparisons from one year tinuous cotton production and an era From the late 1940's until the
to the next even when input and of tremendous change in technology 1970's, productivity increased. A
output prices are changing. The and markets can be observed. continued on page 3
Old Rotation, continued
dramatic increase occurred around
1960. A single, technological advance-
ment at this time overwhelmed all
other input factors. This was the adop-
tion of the mechanical cotton picker
that forever reduced the labor costs
associated with cotton harvest. The
large increase in TFP associated with
this one advancement points out the
tremendous influence technology can
have on agricultural sustainability.
All three Old Rotation treatments
fulfill at least one criteria required for
a system to be sustainable (i.e. output
per unit input is higher in 1991 than in
1896, even when externalities are val-
ued). The external effects of soil ero-
sion and pesticide use have only a
modest effect on measured produc-
tivity. However, the "low input"
system with neither chemical nor or-
ganic N is less productive than the
other two systems. The organic and
chemical sources of N have similar
productivity impacts.
So, what does all this mean to
Alabama cotton farmers who are in-
terested in sustainable cotton produc-
tion? These data prove that continu-
ous cotton production can be sustain-
TSFP Index (1990=100)
150.
able. However, the effect of weather,
management, pests, technological
advancements, and other factors can
create productivity cycles that may
last for several decades.
Because major technological
breakthroughs cannot be predicted,
future sustainability cannot be pre-
dicted. Producers can only use those
practices that appear to provide the
highest total factor productivity in
today's systems.
C.C. Mitchell, G.J. Traxier, and J.L. Novak
OUTPUT AND INPUT SHAIZES ON THE OLD ROTATION,
1896 AND 1991
Output 1896 1991
Pct. Pct.
7 11
93 89
Input 1896 1991
Pct. Pct.
Seed ....................... 8 6
Fertilizer .................. 11 4
Herbicide.................. 0 5
Insecticide ................ 2 9
Drying/ginning............ 28 39
Defoliant................... 0 1
Labor...................... 34 7
Machinery ................ 17 29
Total factor productivity index (five-year averages with externalitites of erosion costs and
off-site pesticide costs.
Seed ....................
Lint ......................
Textile Sludge
Boosts Yields
In an effort to recycle and keep
potentially valuable materials out of
landfills, more and more materials
are being evaluated for their poten-
tial as soils amendments. One of
these materials is dewatered sludge
from a lagoon at Alabama's West Point
Pepperell mill in Opelika. This sludge
has resulted in impressive cotton yield
increases at the E.V. Smith Research
Center(EVS), Shorter, in 1993.
An earlier analysis of the sludge
indicated that it contained approxi-
mately five pounds nitrogen (N) per
wet ton. Other primary and second-
ary nutrients were low and the sludge
met EPA's criteria for "exceptional
quality sludge," meaning it could be
applied with no restrictions. There-
fore, 20 tons would supply a total of
100 pounds of N per acre. However,
samples of the sludge taken the day it
was applied indicated that it con-
tained 18 pounds of N per ton. This
resulted in more than three times as
much N applied to the sludge treat-
ments as planned.
Sludge was applied and incorpo-
rated at 20 tons, 40 tons, and 80 tons
per acre in replicated plots at EVS just
prior to planting cotton in late April.
A control treatment receiving no N
and a treatment receiving 100 pounds
of N as ammonium nitrate also were
included. The sludge rates were sup-
pose to represent 100, 200, and 400
pounds total N per acre. If only 30%
of the total N is available, then an
optimum rate should be between the
40- and 80-ton rate. Of course, the
actual amount of total N applied was
360,720, and 1,440 pounds N per acre,
rates high enough to create excessive
vegetative growth if rainfall is high.
In a relatively dry season, such as
1993, the treatment effects were dra-
matic and quite visible throughout
the season. Sludge-treated plots pro-
duced from 50% to 73% more cotton
than the conventionally fertilized
treatment. There were no significant
differences in yield between the 20-
continued on page 6
Systemic Insecticides Have Large Impact on 
Cotton
Growth and Yield
Use of systemic insecticides, ap- and 1993. Earliness was measured by When 
no s
plied in-furrow at planting, is a rec- cotton harvested in the first picking. applied, 
col
ommended practice for Alabama cot- Both insecticides tested (Temik by three to i
ton farmers. These in-
secticides are used to
help control early sea- 
EFFECTS OF SYSTEMIC INSECTICIDES ON COTTON 
GROWT AND YIELDS, TENNESSEE VALLEY
SUBSTAnoN, 1992-1993
son thrips and aphids
on seedling cotton. Seedcotton First Total Total Plants/
Ib./ac. picking thrips 
aphids - ac.
A part of 
a recent
research project, con- 
Pct.
Check ............... 2,990 74.9 13.9 9.7 28,600
ducted at the Tennes- Temik ................ 
3,600 82.7 3.6 .5 
31,900
see Valley Substation, Di-Syston ............. 3,440 
81.1 4.8 .5 34,100
Belle Mina, m 1992 and
1993, examined how effective and
important these in-furrow treatments
are to Alabama farmers. Cotton stand
counts were made weekly after cot-
ton emerged. Thrips and aphid popu-
lations were estimated by rinsing five
whole plants in alcohol, and then
filtering. Insects were counted under
a microscope. Cotton was harvested
twice for yield in both years of 1992
Foliar-applied K, continued
four applications of KNO
3 
at 10
pounds KNO
3 
per application be-
ginning one week after first bloom.
The other half of each plot received
an equivalent amount of nitrogen (N)
as urea (1.3 pounds N per acre per
application). The Rates of N, P, and K
experiment has treatments that have
received incremental rates of N, P
(phosphorous), and K (potassium)
since 1954. Plots exist at each loca-
tion that are low to high in soil P and
K. Cotton at most locations showed
visible symptoms of K deficiencies in
the low K treatments.
In 1993, yields at the Brewton
and Monroeville Experiment Fields
and at the Wiregrass Substation
15G at four pounds per acre and Di-
syston 15G at five pounds per acre)
were effective in controlling thrips and
aphids in this test. Aphid counts to-
taled only 0.5 per five plants in treated
cotton versus more than 9.5 in the
nontreated cotton. Although thrips
populations in 1992 and 1993 were
average to below average, cotton
stands were still affected by thrips.
(Headland) increased 
as THE EFFE(
soil K increased. At the ACRO'
Prattville Experiment Field
and Tennessee 
Valley Sub-
Treatml
station, Belle Mina, there
1992
was no relationship 
be- Urea ...
tween soil K and yield. KNO
3
..
However, regardless of soil 1993
Urea ...
K or degree 
of K deficiency 
KNO
3 
..
observed in 1993, 
foliar- ' BEF=
applied K did not increase MEF
PEF=
cotton yields as it 
did in TVS
1992. WGS
2 Aver
Because of the hot, rela-
tively dry summer of 1993,
the statewide cotton crop matured
earlier and was lower yielding than
the 1992 crop. he effect of weather on
only 83% an
treated witi
spectively.
These r
tance of ea
for cotton ii
furrow syst
at planting
proved yie]
earliness.
systemic insecticide was
tton stands were reduced
nore than 5,000 plants per
acre compared to
treated plots. Cotton
maturity also was de-
layed by the early sea-
son thrips damage as
measured by a 5% to
7% reduction in first
picking. Finally, aver-
age yields in the
nontreated cotton were
d 87% compared to cotton
h Temik and Di-syston, re-
esults reaffirm the impor-
rly season thrips control
nAlabama. The use of in-
emic insecticides applied
in this test greatly im-
lds and promoted cotton
C.H. Burmester and B.L. Freeman
CT OF FOUAR-APPUED UREA AND KNO
3 
ON AVERAGE COTTON YIELD!
ss AuL SOIL K TREATMENTS AT FIVE LOCATIONS, 1992 AND 1993
Locationi
ent BEF MEF PEF TVS WGS
......... 1,940 2,200 3,600 3,550 2,010
........... 1,900 2.4802 3,8802 3,460 2,170
......... 2,050 3,070 1,660 2,390 1,450
........... 2,060 3,080 1,720 2,380 1,420
=Brewton Experiment Field
=Monroeville Experiment Field
=Prattville Experiment Field
=Tennessee Valley Substation
=Wiregrass Substation
age yields significantly different at 5% probability.
cotton yields seems to overwhelm
any modest effect that foliar-applied
nutrients may have on the crop.
continued on page 5
~Y_
I I
Preemergence
Annual Grass
Control in
Conservation
Tillage
Cotton
The increase in conservation till-
age cotton acreage in Alabama and
the Southeast has shown the need for
soil-applied herbicides that will
consistently provide annual grass
control without incorporation.
Field studies were initiated in 1992
and continued in 1993 at the Tennes-
see Valley Substation in Belle Mina,
Prattville Experiment Field, and
Wiregrass Substation in Headland.
The study evaluated several pre-
emergence treatments for crop injury
and control of annual grasses, prima-
rily large crabgrass, in conservation
tillage cotton.
All trials were planted into
desiccated wheat stubble. The Belle
Mina and Prattville trials were
planted no-till using modified John
Deere Maxemerge
TM 
planters. Trials
at Headland were planted using a
RoTill/International Planter system.
Roundup at one quart per acre was
used at all locations to kill wheat cov-
ers. Each preemergence treatment
was evaluated alone or tank-mixed
with fluometuron (Cotoran/
Meturon) at two pounds active ingre-
Foliar-applied K, continued
Researchers, extension specialists,
and cotton growers throughout the
cotton belt are struggling to explain
why they sometimes see a yield re-
sponse to foliar-applied K but, as of
now, are unable to predict this re-
sponse.
C.C. Mitchell, G.L. Mullins, and C.H. Burmester
STAND COUNTS, VISUAL CROP INJURY RATINGS, LARGE CRABGRASS CONTROL, AND SEEDCOTTON YIELDS
PROVIDED BY SURFACE-APPUED HERBICIDES
Crop Grass control Cotton yield
Treatment Stand ct. Injury +Cot -Cot +Cot 
-Cot
Lb. a.i./ac. No./30 ft. Pct. Pct. Pct. Lb. Lb.
None ..................... 105 3 63 4 2,297 1,370
Command, 1.0 ......... 103 10 88 84 2,472 2,197
Zorial, 1.0 .............. 103 7 -90 78 2,424 2,041
Prowl, 1.0 .............. 102 6 90 84 2,388 2,356
MON 13200, 0.2 ...... 98 6 89 83 2,204 1,960
MON 13200, 0.38 .... 96 9 91 89 2,203 2,249
Dual, 1.0 ............... 92 16 81 63 2,398 1,976
Dual, 1.5 ............... 81 20 81 69 2,309 1,858
dient per acre. Post-directed treat-
ments of MSMA were used at
Prattville and Headland after early
season weed control ratings to pro-
vide supplemental broadleaf weed
control. Crop stand counts, visual
injury ratings, and seed cotton yield
were obtained at each location. The
table presents average data from all
three locations.
Fluometuron alone (none
plus Cotoran) provided 63% late sea-
son crabgrass control and yields equal
to all soil-applied treatments used
with fluometuron. The no-herbicide
check (none minus Cotoran) resulted
in reduced yield as expected due to
severe grass competition. Command,
Prowl, and the high rate of Mon
13200, an experimental herbicide
from Monsanto, provided the best
late season crabgrass control when
used without fluometuron. Stand
counts were lower and crop injury
ratings were higher for Dual at the
1.5-pounds-per-acre rate compared to
other treatments. Yield from Dual
treatments with fluometuron was
equal to all other treatments used
with fluome'uron, indicating the early
season injury ratings and reduced
stand counts did not translate to yield
reductions. Although not shown,
Command, Prowl, and Mon 13200 also
provided significant control of Texas
panicum at the Headland location.
M.G. Patterson, B.E. Norris, D.P. Moore, and
L.W. Wells
Textile Sludge, continued
ton and 80-ton rate, although the
higher rate produced more vegeta-
tive growth. Obviously, the excess N
applied did not produce the negative
effects that were expected. Instead,
the improved physical condition of
the soil from the organic material and
the increased water holding capacity
during a dry year may have contrib-
uted to the dramatic yield increase
from the sludge.
Soil profile analysis will help de-
termine if nutrients are leaching be-
low the rooting zone from the exces-
sive sludge application rates. In the
meantime, it appears that what was a
waste product could have positive ag-
ronomic benefits for some cotton pro-
ducers.
C.C. Mitchell and J.W. Odom
EDITOR'S NOTE
The 1994 Cotton Update is a publication of
the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
(AAES) at Auburn University. It contains the
latest results of AAES studies relating 
to the
cotton industry. Mention of company or trade
names does not indicate endorsement by the
AAES or Auburn University of one brand over
another. Any mention of nonlabel uses 
or
applications in excess of labeled rates of pesti-
cides or other chemicals does not constitute a
recommendation. Such use in research is
simply part of the scientific investigation nec-
essary to fully evaluate materials and treat-
inents.
Information contained herein is available to
all persons without regard to race, color, sex, 
or
national origin.
Seedcotton yield 
(lb/acre)
1,500
1,400 -
1,300-
1,200-
1,100-
1,000-
900-
800
700-
600
500
Control Fertilizer N 20 t/a 
40 t/a 80 t/a
(no N) (100 
lb/a) 
Sludge
Seedcotton yields from the application 
of 100 pounds N per acre as fertilizer 
and 20,
40, and 80 tons per acre of wastewater 
sludge.
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