VOL. 3 NO. 1
HIGHLIGHTS
of
AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH
*70C 4 -C"--A Report from the Experi-
ment Station . .. Fight Against Grain Insects Begins
Now... Pecans Need Zinc . . . Weeds in Pastures
Costly . . . Soil Potassium Important . . . You Can
Now Inoculate Against Coccidiosis . . . Cash in on
Seasonal Price Changes.
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION SYSTEM
of the ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
S E R V I N G A L of A L A B 
A M A
?
:1r
SPRING 1956
A REPORT
#&m rfe AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENT STATION
LIKE THE corporation's report to its
stockholders, this is the A.P.I. Agri-
cultural Experiment Station's report to
Alabama people concerning: (1) the
1955 Legislature's action on the Experi-
ment Station's requests; (2) the prob-
lems facing the Station as the result of
failure of the voters to approve the
Goodwyn and School Bond Amend-
ments; (3) the ways in which the Sta-
tion will attempt to meet the emer-
gency on a temporary basis; and (4)
possible future courses of action.
1955 Legislation
Since the Experiment Station is a
division of the Alabama Polytechnic In-
stitute, its state appropriations are in-
cluded in the Educational Appropria-
tion Bill. The Governor's budget for
education, which was approved by the
Legislature, provided a moderate in-
crease for the Agricultural Experiment
Station System. The School Bond
Amendment included an item for build-
ings for the "Agricultural and Veteri-
nary Sciences." However, these benefits
were dependent upon the passage of
Constitutional Amendments 1 and 2 or
upon subsequent action by the Legis-
lature.
Problems Facing Experiment Station
Like other divisions of public educa-
tion, immediately upon passage of the
Educational Appropriation Bill the Ex-
periment Station was faced with the
problem of whether to raise salaries on
October 1 or to await the vote on the
Goodwyn Amendment. Caution sug-
gested waiting. Reality dictated action,
however. The Station had built a staff
of well-trained, dedicated scientists.
Because they are well trained and com-
petent, many have received offers from
other institutions. Alabama could not
afford to lose even one of these research
workers. Therefore, the Station, along
with other divisions of the Institution,
made salary improvements effective Oc-
tober 1. When the Goodwyn Amend-
ment failed to pass December 6, it
meant that tax collections would not
equal appropriations and that each edu-
cational agency would receive a per-
centage of its appropriation. Only 17.9
per cent (instead of 25) of the appro-
priation for the quarter October 1 to
December 31 was received. Recently
it has been estimated, however, that
current sources of revenue may equal
or exceed 80 per cent of appropriations
for the year.
Thus, the Experiment Station was
faced with the problem of making ap-
proximately $80 do $100 worth of
work. To do this it was necessary to
retain present staff and to assure them
that their work would not be seriously
hampered by a lack of operating funds.
The problem of an inadequate physical
plant had been serious even when there
was hope for early relief. When the
bond issue failed to materialize, the
Froblem became much more pressing.
Emergency Measures
During the week of December 11 to
17, the staff of the Director's Office
studied the 1956 budget in minute de-
tail. Every saving that had been made
earlier was taken into account. Plans
were made to defer expenditures that
could be deferred temporarily. Planned
new research was held in abeyance.
After careful study, it appeared that
the Experiment Station could maintain
salaries and continue to conduct its re-
search at near normal levels for a short
time.
It cannot be emphasized too strongly
that the measures that are being put
into effect are emergency measures.
They are not the long-time solution to
the problem of supForting an adequate
research program. They are not the
most desirable nor are they necessarily
the most economical. Farmers suffer
when needed new research is not ini-
tiated. Deferring purchase of a needed
truck or microscope may be false econ-
omy, but the end may justify the means.
Possible Future Courses of Action
The most desirable course of action
is one that will allow the Experiment
Station to continue its research pro-
gram at current levels. Obviously, this
course depends on finding some means
of providing revenue to support the
1955 appropriations in full. If this is
done, salary improvements 'will be
maintained; the efficiency of research
will be improved because some addi-
tional maintenance funds will be avail-
able; there will be some additional sup-
port for the recently initiated program
of research on animal diseases; and the
program at the substations can be
strengthened by the earmarked fund
provided for that purpose.
A second possibility would be to cut
salaries back to September levels. The
effect of this on morale would be dis-
astrous.
A third possibility would be to main-
tain salaries, but to reduce the total
research program in line with reduced
financial support. Under this course of
action, positions would be eliminated
and projects closed whenever vacancies
occurred. Under it, much critically
needed new research could not be ini-
tiated.
Surely the problems of Alabama 
ag-
riculture are such that an expanded pro-
gram of research is needed, not one of
retrenchment. Which shall it be?
E. V. SMITH
Director
W. G. EDEN, Entomologist
;AEAJiIDIN( N I C111 1-0r1 this
ear ag.ainist gri un insect dailliage starts
iiox\, choosinig the right xvarietv.
Coin vairieties vary xxidelv inl their
resistance to attack by such s"tored
gi dill insects as ilice weevcil and Ani-
gotimolis grain moth. These are the most
Iinmpo rt ant gira in pests iil A lab~ama.
x er at pciriod of Years, exp)erimnents
1)x the API Agricultural Expeiment
Statioin shoxwed that huisk cov er and
hiardn ess of girain were imeasuires (If re-
sistance to stolled grain insects.
Shuck Cover
Shuck coxver is the most important
characteristic (of a corn xvarietv that af-
fects susceptib~ility or resistaince to at-
tack. A good husk coxver wvas founid tol
he oC(ne that h as moIre thai 2 in ch es oIf
husk exteinding hex ond the ear tip and
that has the tip oIf the husk tightly
clo~sedl, xvith none of the ear exposed.
(See photo.) It is dlifficuit for an insect
Such ats the rice xx'eevii to penetrate the
husk (If at xxeicllvered ear. Studies haxve
shoxwn that this holds true in the corn
cribl as xx'elli as iil the field. The resuits
from at stuidy (If 29 v arieties aire gix ci
in Talahe 1. I this stndv xwhere a husk
cov er rating lof 5 is blest, no~tice hoxx the
xweexil dlamage, bo1th at harvest and( af-
tei 8 monllths oIf storiwe, iincreasedl as
tile hus0k cox ci rattitg decreased.
Hardness of Groin
Hardn(liess (If kernel is another char-
actel istic that affects the amouint (of
dmage at corn xvariety suffers from
storiedi grain pests. The harder the coirn
keirnel, the more (difficuit it is foi the
insect to eat. In tile case (If the rice
x\ ccxii, hardlness makes it more dliffi-
cul t foi the adunit femi aie to ipunctuire
and dlepoIsit her eggs inside the corn
kernei.
In the study (If 20 varieties shown in
Tahie 2, notice that the harder corns,
such as Tennessee 10:32, had less (lam-
age than the softer ones, such as Dixie
17.
Most Resistant Varieties
WXh at x ,Iiictie s anid~ h 1bInids arie tile
blest? InI Tabie :3 ar e listed 2.5 x arieties
tha't haxve bleen gir(xwn 
in the ai Yt
tests t Anuiurn foi tile pa1st 3 xyeairs h)'v
the Department (If Agi ononms and( Soiis.
This talie shoxxs the ax eraare percent-
age oft olamage bly storiedc grain insects
tol these corns at harxvest. The most re-
sistanit corins 10 e Dixie 18, Lonisiana
.521, NlIcCnrdv 1003, and Coker 811.
The most susceptibie are Fnk G-704,
Pioneer .510(, Pioneer 301AX and U.S.
13.
Some x aiicties and hx iliids are rec-
ommended in one section of the State
.111( iiot iii otheirs for xvariouis reaso ns.
A coin variety shouid ilot ibe seiectedi
TABLiE 1. [RELAxTiINSiiHIP OFi HSK COx F 0
(IF CORN TO li FIC W\EEVIL DAMiAGE AT
HlARVES A5i ND AFiTER 8 M1ONTHS STORAGE
Dllmagc 
Hus(k
Variety 
,It c(IX er
harxvest 
ratinlg
Pct.
I )ixie 18 
2.2 
4.67
1)Aei 11 :3.5 4.1)6
LII. 1(1.31 2.8 :3.94
LaI. 521 133 1391
XXo(odx S-360 4.9 -3.87
\1'rd 1010W .0 :376
N.C. 27 4.6 :3.75
XL CirdN 1(1(2 :3.9 .37 2
\lcCurdx 5.5 .3.59
Funks 7 14 .5.2 .3.48
Paymai~lster 10).7 .3.495
T Icon. It) 101.3 3.4:3
N.C. 26 8.2 314:3
Gil. 1t0t 7. 3 .3.41
Fnnks G-7.37 4.0) 3.36
Indialn Chief 6.4 .21
MIosby 16.4 .3.20
D~ixie 17 6.6 :3.17
MlcCnrdxv
101)5Wk 11.7 .3.17
.A.G. 630) 5.8 3.14
Fuinks C 717 7.9 .09
Tenn. 6(02 5.4 :3.0(0
Dixie 44 11.0 2.84
N -C. 10:32 5.2 2.76
1). A. G. 6:3 1W 
18.6 2.66
13A G. 62)) 101.4 2..39
Finks G-711 17.1 2.07
F.AG. 17(0 18.7 1.93
U.S. 13 26.1 1.81
Dalmage
after
8 I1,iltI'
stIoradge'
Pct.
14.2
42.5
22.2
41.01
18.2
17.1
21.7
21.6
28.4
2132
45.2
-38.3
29.8
4 0.:3
2.9
26.))
5.5.;
49.0
44.2
47.8
26.8
24.6
.31.4
29.))
.56.8
5:3.4
62.6
72.2
81.9
Good shuck cover at left protects, whereas
loose cover at right exposes ear to groin
insect attacks.
oniv onl the basis of its r esistance to
Stored1 grain inisects. For fuirth er ii d 01-
19.55 Corn Vai ietv R~epor t issued
1 
hx the
API Agricuituial Experimnit St'atio
should he consulted.
I \13LE 2. RICE W 'x EIL DAMAGEc -10 Coo'.
AS BELATE i I ')10 11 ABDN ES'
Varietxy
N.C. 10)32
Fuinks C 717
MceCurdx 10)02
Fink'. C-- 714
1)ixic 44
1)ixic 18
.A.G. 170
.A.G. 6.3(1
N.C. 26
La. .521
La. 1(1.31
U. S. 1.3
N.C. 27
Wo d'. S-360
\IoI'l)x
Fenn.i 10)
Dixie I11
Mc Curdy 1005.
Pil)(ier
XXc icxI
-damage
Pct.
44.6
44.9
26i.3
46.3
62.7
44.6
74.6
68.5
.37.1
27.0
:30.1
87.1
:32.9
41.9
43.2
5:31.9
285 .
5.9 .
61.7
5 6. 2
Ha~rdiness
1A) peIr
Sq. ill.
59.61
54.592
5:3.46
591.96
591.60)
.51.26
50.222
49.82
49.38
4 8.76
46.96
47.88
:36.34
459.42
42.98
4 2.6 2
41.38
.40.54
:39.91)
:38.82
TAL SilF3. INSECT r Dsxi (.F TO) COON V xiI
TIES A.r 11 sin sr. Ai. il. N, 195:.3-55.
Xarictv 
Kernel'.
(1,1)) Iggcl
Pct.
Dixie 18 10.2
La. .52 1 1(17
McC'dv 1(0(03 11.6
Coker 8 11 1] 9
Coker 911 15.8
Fink G-7859W 16.4
N.C. 27 18.6
Dixie 82 2(1.2
Fink C 779W 2(0.6
Pfistcr 486 22.2
D)ixie 11 22.7
\tcC'dv 1001A 2.3.5
X'arietN 
Kerneis
PcIt.
Miss'. 1123 25.3
Disie .33 31.8
Dixic 22 31.9
Piolleer .3(9A :36.))
Dixie 17 :37.5
Mosbyhx .38.6
IPfi'ter 6:31 39. 3
Fink G-7(14 5(0.6
'ilonecr .910 .54.1
1ioneer :301A 59.1
U.S. 13 601.7
PECANS
oteed Z IN C
T. B. H-AGLER
Associate -iorticulturist
A Bli YiiUl PVCSN ill t liiiitg to
die at the tips of the Iblanchies. Doi thie
leases tot n brotssn anid die iti late sutiil-
itici It sot. vt iti ices alie probblyl Siff-
Let iti ftitita dficieioc\ itt zinic, at ctil-
dlittott ktittssii its "rosette" iii Alabama.
A I it, N \' sh ossed thiat ats iian x iii ts 90
per cenit of pell itrchlads in certain
sectitons iof Alabhama n eed ed zintc. Al-
thotughi zinc dcficieiicv is miote preva-
lent it pecani tr ees grttssing ini the
sandul soils of souithieasternt Alabamua. it
illstt occurs o il tices gloswiig ill the
hteaicr Coiastal Plainis atid Piednnitt
suihs. I'llie eC, st ot can expect rolsette
tio alppear ss Ierce p
1
ecatis are griowns
iiiAlahbitun it uinc- is hilt inicled ill
yout fertil izet 
1
i tgratti.
Symptoms of Deficiency
Ilist \% Lit t Iic thle S' iiiit~iiis Oif Zinc
ctficieticv, and howlis caii vi as af
girowser detertminie whether your pecani
ti(Ces ate deficienit? Examitnc 'our trees
iii late sutmmier to sCC if the s littg
leases are bieginninig tot ci itkle anid tutrn
yellow or brownvt betsseen'I the \,(,ills.
Zinc deficient trees wSill uiualN exhibit
aI browntish appeatrance fromi a distance.
The muts wsill usually lie small and
poour]l"x filled, and] yields will be low.
Later stages iof the deficienicy result iii
(death of leases atid younig twsigs. Ness
growssth oi a zinc-deficient tree Nwill
come out in whorls hasving the appear-
j Above-Dead twigs in
this tree resulted from
zinc deficiency; below
-tree fertilized with
zinc shows recovery
S from rosette.
atice otf it (~te Large litihs iii the
totps itt tirees irtay' (lie inl extiC1 tUe cas
of dcficietncy.
Pecanis grow~ biest oil sils has ing at
Pl I of 6.5 toi 7.5. Thctreforc. pecanis
groiwinig oii soils wNith at pH heltiw 6.5
Nwill respondt~ to applicationis of lime-
stonte, hut this ss\ill inicrease the ticcN
sitv of applvitig zitic to prevetit rosette.
tUn'less zitc' is applied, yields may ac-
tualls liv e redu ced lbv applications of
li mestotie.
A zinc fet *tilizatioti prtigratm for pe-
catis falls intti tsvo categiiries: first
ptrevetiing the deficiency and seconrd
ciirrectinig the deficieieN . Deficiencies
ate( easier to pies cut thian they tre tot
cotrrect after tliev hav e deCNeloped.
Preventing Deficiency
To pirevent the des eltipmetit oif zinc
cleficieticv onl mature pecati trees, apl-
ply 2 to 3 poutids of zitic sulphate
(:36% metallic zitic) per tree per Neat.
A coniplete fertilizer conotaining zitnc
similar to that used for corn may lie
used, hut it wsill he necessary to add
addcitiiotal zinc sulphate unless the rate
of application is 1 toin per acre or more.
Oti younig trees zinc sulphate should be
applied at the rate of I to 1 pound
per year (if the tree's age. ItI pecan or-
chards s,\here riisette has tiever oc-
curredl, the zinc sulphate may be ap-
plied at the tate of 10 pounds per tree
ercv 5 .seairs it aliiiual ajiplicitotls
ill-C not conisett.
If si01 are grossiing leglilies ili N (lii
pecanl orchardi and it a Sil
1 
test IpisS
that limte is neceded f or the gTross th of,
the legumie, it iN especiallY impolrtat
that the applications oif zinic sulphate
lie made soon after thle lime is applied.
Results of tests onl sandcy soils iii Bar-
hou r Countv sholisedi thIat 1 to oi if a ri
cultural linestolic per acre iucreasedi
the vield of pecans Nsheii zinc was apl-
plied tol pres (lt rose(tte'. Best gri is t
at d a ppearianuce occuIrred ouu ti eCs fer-
tilizedl \sitli bothi limiesttone andi zinic
and ss here the ph., followsing 
ti eatiuleit,
rauged bietwe en 6.8 anid (6.9.
Correcting Deficiencies
It is nmuch harder and mule expeii
Nis e to corr1ect zinc deficiectie in peai 
is
than to prev(ent its developmienit. 
If
youiir trees are mnatutre anid if t I te slo 
ts
5N mptoms of rosette, \ou should appls
it) to 15 plountds oif zinc sulphate per
tiree per veat for 2 suiccessiv e Neals and
fo~llow
5 
this wsitli atniliil applicationis of
Ziti(' siilphaiits uNsied fOi thie lii's etittit
of rosette.
Zinic dchicicticY call alsot l cloiiected
by spia\ itreties wsithi zinc stilphatce ill
eat IN- spi itig \\ hlit eaNs ie aboti
thi cc tiiit tls girowni A mixtuire of 2
pouinds of' zinic sulfate to It00 gallonis ot
aiter is applied at the late of :30 to
5t0 gallons per tree, (lependin i oii the
tree s size. Two or- three applicatitons
are neeessai- during the grointsvg sea-
Sol].
For more informatiinon lif eca pro-
diuction, see A.PI. Agricultural Experi
ment Statiiin Circular 115, "Facttors Af-
fecting Pecan Yields." Copies c-an lie
obtained friom vour Coutt Agetnt, oir
froim the API Agricultural ,Experimett
Station, Auburn, Ala.
WEEDS le"
A-uwu CO0S TL Y
V.S.SEARCY
A- stln Aq n rist
WEEDS IN P xx ItI I0 h lohigrel need
lie tolerate -it'i tiles' Ilox canl he conl
trl'le l(iIef ict ix (lx v ) cheic 0cal s.
Chierokee lose, hittci xx'ed, aldler, and
other pest p)lanbts cost Alabama lixve-
stock fall hers in toldr thouisand(s of do l-
larsx il i reduiicedl produc1 t ion anid market
pen aIt ies.
Six s eals' results from experiments
l)ix'N the ANI Agricultural Exper imenit
Statioln sho\\s howss 5llli of the mlole
troublllesoime xweedls c.ai lie coliti olledl
eclllolicallx'.
Cherokee Rase
Expel illil ts at the Loxx ei CoaStall
Plaini Subhstaition, Camnden,. Ala., shoXx'
that Chlirokee rolse ('all hei contro~lledl
by followring these simple prolceduIres:
(1) I (mlixeI top growxxthi of old roses,
2) wxhenl new' spriouts or seedlinig roses
each at leigth of 12 to) 18 incehes, spray'
xwithi 2 poundllis (aidi cjlix iilt) of ani
ainline fill Ilolf 2,4-1) per acre or 1
polunld of at losw xolatile ester of 2, 4-1)
in 29) gailliios of' wxater pe(r icre: (3)
spray ats loftel itas the li('xx gro'tli of
rssre'ache(s the specified length. Tx,'ii
tol tille a' pplicationis p'er grossinig seasi~
Checrokee I rose grossing ill a ciim_
loon lesieileia LDallisgrass pasture ind
treatedl wxith Ii total of 8 a pplication s
ats just (lescribied haid 8:3 old roses per
acre sulrsi iilg after 4 sears. The moss'ed
treatment had1( 1,359 old roses per acre,
while the unidisturbed cheek had 790.
The reasonl for fewver roses5 in the cheek
plot is tha~t lnmiers oif roses had growvn
together inito large clumps, as shownl
in the photos. Frequenit mowxing wxill
hot kill C;herikee rose; it wvill onis'
cause them to flatten and spread 
along
Above - Untreated
area at left, treated at
right; below-closeup
of large Cherokee rose
clump in untreated
area.
the soil silice. After 4 s ii, sei'(lillgf
loses are still coming upl inl the treated
plots, eveii thouigh no seedl have been
produled~ dur ing the test pei od. This
emophasizes the necessitN ot at long
lal~ge sprax pn grin if Clici okec roses
Meto lie kept linder contr ol.
Commoni lespcezea and( whilte clover
shoiuldl not he spl axed ulitil wxell es-
taliihel. For white (loser pastures,
use oix]% 1 potllid per acle of i amine
form of 2.4- it s longl as adeqplate con-
trol of roses is ohtaiii d. tlp to 2 poili(s
per acre call he applied ifnesar
to co~ntrol roses. Do not sprav \%,hite,
clover duliwi fail aind \Nilitcr Wxhell
fi I-ee/ili xxeatlier bnight occur inl 30)
d.\xs. Estatblished permanlent pasture
grasses wxili bit lie iijiled hbv recoin-
menedC( rates iif 14-fl.
Ligli t ilnfest ation s ori- iccessibl e
.spoits of' Cherokee rose can lie controlled
bv ce i ('c1' '0e(1ilia the alrea xx itl i li('
of these soil stel ilailts that kills all]
x egetatioli 1t) pounds 'oncen'ltr ated
Bol )aseu per I t00 squIare feet of area;
B ira se and ( GelIse' Borate. 153 poundrs
per 10(0 squiar e feet. or C \l U at the
rate of 0.17 poulndsx per 100( squjiare
feet. These mnateriails are ap)pliedl Irs,
except CNIT t xxhich is appliedl as at
Sprax'.
Other Weeds
Experimenits hasve xhox'ii that I
pound per acre of an amnine form of
2,4-D is very effective in controlling
sie'hi impior~taint irll eai~l~f pa~sture \\ ced~s
ats bittei 55ee. docl(k, duog fenlnel iol slim1
iner ced~ar, all(] 111,11sh eIler or camt
It is best to .ippl'24 Mie we'l ed ((s
ale1 ill gToiiu gI 05\ibii condiuitin il b11le-
fore tliev lie(ill to lhiio. Most aiiiiiiill
weed w''1 xill lie killed wxith olle applica-
tionl. I losexer., xx here wxeedIs conltinuie
tol c'inle 1111, retpea.ted treatmhenits are
iai'ed. Most deep-riooted perelillial
wxeeds require repeated treatments for
sat isfactorv5 conltrl'.~
Precautions
l. o lint spray wh'lite cbse and11(
(Iiin il lcspedeizi unltil wxelI estali
lishcd.
2. Do not xsplax xxhite' cbs ei if freez-
:3. 1o )i olt spia xie5itt'li Calc\ peas,.
41. \lost desirabile paisture ( lemiles
wxill lie killed ior su'i ioislx (lailnaiged lix
2A1 f except xxhite clo er anid lesie-
uleza ats already' describied.
.5. 2,4-fl is toict toi almoiist il]] s('edh
linig grasses.
For mnore deitaiils, see A.P.I h Agr icl-
tural Experiment Stationi Leaflet 43,
"Chienical Conitrl o if Cherokee Rose,
Alder and Certain Other Pasture
W'eedls." Copies may' lie obitainied from
\-our Counts Agent, or fromn the API
Agricultural Experiment Station, Au-
burn, Ala.
Left-Weedy 7-year-old alfalfa at right
received only 60 pounds of K-0 annually,
good stand at left was fertilized with 240
pounds K-0 annually; right-cotton follow-
ing alfalfa on same area shows severe pot-
ash deficiency in area receiving low K-0
applications, good cotton where alfalfa
received 240 pounds K-0 annually.
t ") I ~I lii I OiM 1015% hIlls 111111
cottoil folbilw o such cropfs as alfalfa
set icea, andi jlcisiits!
III general, tnot ('011(1gb Pta~sh is the
answer, '.'.ith limec beinig at limitingy fac-
to r oecasiolaiiv. Tbhese three I e t.nt m
Morese 111 potash and limle ftrom soil
thant most the tlCirops.
C:ottonl readiily show'.s potash (lefi-
cif c stoptomrs \v'. en 
the soil supplY
o'Potasht is (depletedi: thetrcfore, it is
the Crop oil wIi.h ich tronl be is mo st t re-
tjiieistly nioti-edl. lieseareb 1)' the API
A griculItunral Exper imietnt StationIt has
showvn, howev.etr, that the '. elds of cor~n
atnd olthet Crolps '.',ill reflect pottassium
d efi ci et c, fI IlII'.in t a .i Cro ps notlt slip
plied cinoligli potash.
Heavy Potash Feeders
An'.' fortage Ctrop that is retnollsd
ftrtott the lalil takes \kith i t large
,iniIosilits of, poltassium. With I'.'. excep-
tionts, Alalaina solils are set's lo'.w itt
totIt a\ a.. ilb c plta ssim. The Ieflre,
solidt fttrtilizatioln pralctices musst inl-
Chide suflficietnt potassiumt tto pro(du ce
cel moltficaiI vieltls and sspivl the solil
wvithl abhot ats mitchl as is removed cc IV
the Crtop.
For examletjl, aboultt 260) pountds of
K( - ) ( potasht ) per acre is iieecled to
pi tdusce i1 (trood '.icld ( 4 tons) ofI all
K ()O is remIt'. ed iii the hat\ and other-
wvise lost f romt the soil. Since alfalfaj is
at '. ry effectiv.e feeder onl soil pttas-
silim, the ava ,ilabile po~tassiuim will be
seritul '.v depleted inless this armlldint
is applied. This depletion will result inl
statnd failuires and redutcedl grmwth olf
ailfalfa; alsos, the sotil wvill be so de-
ple'tedl of potassium that yield (If the
follow'.ing cirop w..ill he reduced. There-
fore, this Staition recommetnds an an-
mutal appliteationi (If 20)0 poust o(f K. -
per acre for alfalfa onl most solils.
Althousghl senecea and peantits pro-
duce less folrage than alfalfa, the. ate
efficient feeders of potassitim. rapidll'
depleting the Soil's supply. H 
o'.we'.er,
SOIL POTASSIUM
R. D. ROUSE
Associate Soil Chemist
ann iazl r emo.al is less (59) to 80)
pountds). Oil the same Soil, at loger
time '.'.ill lhe r equsiredl fot deficiency tol
dex'e(lop thllt that inl tile Case of alfalfa.
ii' ow.'. i, these crops mie grown tistial-
ly (il solils loser ci itpo(tassium. With-
((it adeqtej~t additions of poltash, x ieids
tma'. beI reduiced it I a Sit ttttimte. TIiis
St'itilol recolmmenlds anl dililtial applica-
tin of 50 poud of0(5 K. ( .0 for set iced
asn(i 6(1 toi 80 fls ild(s foIr peanusts oIt
molst soils.
When the rectommtended amosunt of
fe ctiliier is applied tol la ,vCrops, the
land tiorniali'. '..ill bill t as goold if tIttt
bletter Clontditioln tfot otiler Crops as Ie('
fle tile Ills Crop~ p1lltilg.
High Rate To Correct Deficiency
W etl litnd has a11 ('1(1. Iet'tt dlc
plee, it reqsnt ds al iiltlislial'. highl
rate ofI po t asit to clorrect tite clefi ciecs.
Oil lantd lof a Tenntessee \alle. farm
depleted ib'. alfalfa, theit (1'' lwitlg vield
itncreases (If seed ttli resuilted fromt
b~ro~adcast atppiicatioi~ts (If K2{):
Inucase ( S.C.
Poundsl(1 per acre'
120) 240 480
272 -304 4.56
The soil swas classifiedi as Decatur cia'.
ltam, whticih normally giv.es little re-
splonsed frolm high aplicattionis of pot-
aisit. Thle sizealie '. eici increases frolm
higit rastes indcicate tile soil's State (If
poItashl dlepletiotn following alfalfa.
Ott Chester field 5,101'. loam at Asi-
burtn '.where alfalf'a had rccci. ed 60)
ptitds (of K.,( anntusally for 7 s ears,
f'out' rates (If appllicaltiont o~f K.() Itl the
dirill gas e thtese s uidd increases of' seed
colttt lt
flltc (It 1/) 24 48 96 1902
increcase ( S.C. I 177 284 40)7 5:38
receis ed 24t0 poundt s (If K -.0 aititialls
fo~r 7 sears. tihe increases from tile samfe
alpplicationt rt',ts we. rc oi]\, 6, I107, 40,
ildi( 161 polundls (If seed Co~ttonlpe
acre. Otit sisquailillia fitte Sandyti lIIl
It the Tsiskegree Explerimtenit Field. colt-
15 tolg (eli werI e ieae t253i poundsl~
pis acret 120m 96 poundss( f K .0 fl
At the Wit egi ass Substatio o~il 5 Nor-
fo~lk sattci loa~m, coIttoni 5 \icIis we. re ii-
C'reased 589 pounitds by5 ilrIIadelst ill)-
plicatiot (If :36(0 pounds (If KO ( Ill landl~
that htad beet ilit a 2-year ro talt ion o (f
cotton t) piIieatmits for 10 years. The
coIttont htad receivecd 48 poundil~s oIf K -()
fertilized.
These examplles o~f ressults stress im-
potrtantce (If prolper fertilizastioni tot pre-
5 ent solil depiletionl. Futrthermotre, fer-
5 idds adl better stands (If it.s- crops.
oCutcim~osis is at constanit threat to
the broiler girowver anti the commercial
egrg protduceir. It is likely to occuir ill
aiiv giou 01)of chickens i eared tiiitler or-
diii ,rv fluoor m1a i a gt'int' ut ine(tli t]s.
Folloswiing severie iiitfbreaks, losses
mayv run higlh f'rioi not iteal e lack of
thrift aintd ietaiieti growsthi, anit f-rom
deaths. Mild attacks onl the other haiid
oft n niced, especiailly if' a small
portin if the floick is 
affecteti at a ii
one time. Yet, CX cii these mild attacks
may tiise girow.th Slo'.vdIowii anti Poor
feet] ciins i 5oii.
Causes
tUntier ii vest igatioli silice the late
I 92t0's, coccidiosis iif' potilti X' is liiisX
kiiiwii tii lbe cauisetd I)) at least eigTht
spe'cies of coecidia tilli'x protozoan
pairasites. One of thetse affc-ts the bliiid
piiiicl ( cecal ) aintd the iitfiei 51:5 eui 1)1-
inarilX daa~ge the sinaill iiitistiiies, at
least five of XwhIich are of tlla rs-antI
cents impoirtaiice.
III seXvere cases of cecal coccidiosis,
there is coinsideirable hemorirhaging anti
sloughing of the pouch liiiing; severe
eases iof the iiitestinal ty.pes are market]
by sloughiiig of the small intestinal hoii
ing.
T 'ypical syimptiims oif affectetd birtds
are ruiffledi feathers, chill rigors, (in-
thriftiness, anti bloodv tdiarrhea.
(Considerahle progress has been matde
iii cintrol of t lit disease th riough bet-
ter nuitritiion anti maniagem eit, ant]
thiroulgh w.itdespiread lase iif mneticants.
I his' CX r. reteint cionservatiXve estimates
lv USDA place ainn uai lo sses f rom the
tdiseaise ait nii c than S'38 million.
Research in Alabama
Th le ANP Agricultural Expeu imeiit
S tati in hegrani ci ccitl his researchi ill
,1947. One 11ohiectiX e was to attempt to
(1eX(,eli) a praticail imethod M of imni ii
iliii chickens aigaiuist ine ori more types
iif thl'e diseaise.
R~esuilts iif Atifn stiudies show~ that
the cecail aiiit fiiir intestiiial tX pes of
eiiccitliosis are witfespi-cat] andit are iif
ecioiiomic impor taiice ini boithi broiler
aiiid tommhcia~l e'gg piiioiiutcti. Fiiil-
antId pool feet] coeon. isin \'. e fiiiiiit
tii he gi eatei thiii those fio io oitailits.
(Ii icks uinder 2 weeks iif ige siifleriiig
w..ith aiii iif, the st's rail types stiutiedl
Xweie less affectef thaii chicekeins haviiig
the tdisease at 4 to 6 we'eks iir oltder.
Cbiitkens infected with the cecal-ts pe
coccitlia at 6 weeks w.seighed almost
one-half pouiiit less at 12 weeks than
those inoculated at 3 days of aige. Also,
fe'.ver dietd when infectetd at 3 tdays
than when infectetd at oltder ages.
/ Althiiugh chickens are must suiscep-
tile to coctitfiosis at 4 to 6 \,s eeks of
age, they' are susceptible '.intil slich
times as they develop immunity. The
tdisease causer] by any oini species is
Left-Laboratory at the API Agricul-
tural Experiment Station built especially
for producing coccidiosis vaccine under
strictly controlled conditions; right-tech-
nicians copping viols of vaccine for deliv-
ery to pharmaceutical firms.
II iimj)tl\ lolloss ilig txs\' i. tli e miltd
tX tIes Of i IIf ettio II; 1)5 I ' owver, ioImIIIunIIitv
to) olle spec'ies5 does biot give rc sistanci
to an)otheri. A ti'. small niumber of
'I galismls is reqired to initiate tie
\elopneiit of' iioomiiitx -. Clicks call he
ii inocullated at a \ery eairly age with
at least 5 tx pes of coccidia aod dev elop
immuitnity )vh"v 4 weeks without tiamage.
Techilit fes for piroduction)1 andi sto ra ge
of inifective oocx Sts have heenl iiii
proved.
These aii(i other findinrgs ledl to the
des elo p meit at Albrl tii Of a Sioinpie ao d
piract ical roeti iiit of i mmuizin g chick-
ens, first against the t'ecal ts pe alone
and more reen tlI a ga inst a coiiiI h
tion of cecal and~ three intestinal types
of coccidiosis.
The coiniiiationii jiciiliii is mixed
Wvith the feedI atki fed thu 1inig late morn-
In g (if the thirdi tia' aftei chickens are
placed ini the hiouste. Chicks are staived
fir 2 to :3 hours bef ore beiiig giv en the
viccinated feet], \0i ich is kept before
them until all is tconjsumetd. Beginning
the 1:3th day, after inocui it ii t speci-
fied amlolunt of suilfaquiiioxailie, whlich
is ,i part iif' the vaccinaiton ircdue
is giveto in the driinkinig wsater for 2 to
.3 (Ls o mi)til ciisiied. B\ 28 tlavs
the chickens swill li.e icqiiietd sufli-
ciciit immuitv to sxitistaiiid ii diliai v
The toccidi sis S acciiie, fiirst f'in cc-
cal alote aiit then'i as at cominiation
t , pe. is priotducetd li the Potilti-y~ His-
liintirY Depairtinit of the Experiment
Stat ioin undter tariefullv ctriotllet] con -
ditiins. It is releasetd to pharmaceu-
tical firmrs thn utighi the Auibuirii Reseairch
Foiuntdation. The v acciiie wvas first re-
leased .31'2 years ago and has been useti
hy poultrymen to immunize more thaii
51) million' birtis throughout the LTniteti
States and several foreign countries at
an average cost of a little less than 1
cent per bird.
4 4ar~ COCCIDIOSIS
S. A. EDGAR
Poultry Pathologist
CASH IN ON-
Se~od Aozee d~af e4
MORRIS WHITE and J. IH. YEAGER
Department of Agricultural Econom~cs
\V.'CI Si(iiICP(S I'ALL svhenl mI Pirod-
tiets aic c' d tot sell! Youi lid e oif-teii
hi ci fiiliiers ike this statement. III
it lilrge Ileasul c. it is trueI. I I o\'(s er,
ili IiiiiiV citsc', 1)1i iltitititl arc sales
can be idjuistt't to take ,itlsantage oft
seatsonald pi ice changes. Ti Is IIeantI s
sellimig more ss hen prices are hiighest
anid less VI lien pi ices arlc lissest.
Aclji istiniiits that canl he madtce to take
aldvsii tiage of scilso m al pirice ch i i gc's
Center ill: (1) becoming mlore failiarl
w,,ith iniikets; (2) plaiiiing hi ec(liiig
progiraim,; (:3) keeping ahecad onl feed
slipplies; andI, ( 4) storing cert a in coim-
motdifies.
A st ui v of varia tihoi inl inthtd
pirices foir 14 commodities duiring 1948
54wais iccciitl\ comllple'ted. T[le itilli it
and( patteiii of sciasotil vairiatioii ill
Index
120- 1 Eggs
100
I'zo
3 Broilers
100
80
120 4 
Corn
100.
80
120
5 Cotton
100
80
'J F M A M J J A S 0 N D
pr ices for 5 commodities arc repoirted
lici e.
1 . E(;c .. Showsed motst seasonal \ai-
ition of an., cominodits' stuidied: 26q
altos e as ci age ill I~cccInhei 'I)% it' e
1115w ai ci age price ill Apiril. M\liithly
pi ices cdiiring - yeairs 
coiisistciitlx
dlroped rim Jainuairy tlti oigl Api il:
iii iioist cases thev increased fro itiica
2. Ico(s. Prices ieachied at peak iii
july and Auigust; dropped 
16% 1) ' c~-
ccinbcrei; ii itr peak occurri d l iJa-
taiy v.sslicr-eas prior tt 1948 pirices inl
creaiseld iii March.
:3. 131101-1-:1S. Highest prices cere inl
Mlarch, April. and Auguist: uisutally hoN
cst iii 13c'ccmhc'r; diirii iga 7 \ciearssti111(
ied, it ithly prices decieased I iilii
April to \ia 'v; pmrices pau tictilairl'\ If-
ft 'eted bts' changecs inll 11)1) br of broilers
m)ii kctecl as well as demand factors.
4. Cn--~ Highest prices iii summier;
Ii iss st iii October, Nttsenbhei, and De-
ceinhem ' 22" avcirage price rise fiont
Ntis eilibcr to Jil'\.
.5. Co u IN . Althouigh at majoir souirce
of f iriit income, cotton showed ccl r5'
little sc',istijia v ariatitntil l pii'; oiils.
4'7 p1ice (1iffe'ren ce fri n ii i\Nest to hi gh-
est nloiitli. ieisoiis: price suppo)irt pro-
giin ts sWell ats suipply aiici deliamid
FREE Bulletin or Report of Progre
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
of the ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITU
E. V. Smith, Director
Auburn, Alabama
Permit No. 1 132-2 /56-8M
Ifew aaid -74"4te
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1I1'ti h' IC HC i i lICIi i li i Is CN p111 itS, llhlii .1
Leaflet 45. Control of Inscts ancl Foliage
Di sea ses of Toiatoies inl Alabamna goi's thc
lest iiirhk tliiil matc.1ils fur control.
Progress Report 59. F'attening Rations for
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ports 2 s tars' t'spt'i-iint onn utilization ofi
pastuirc and( h 't'd to carry c alves to 1wit'ixIt
ss tights and( liii~lit fiiiisil.
Progress Report 60. Control of Soil Insect
Pests in Gulf Coast Irish Potato Fields u-
siinlis aut
1 
iuipoirti'tl fir n'iits.
Progress Report 61i. (Construction andI Op-
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of
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
Published Quarterly by
Agricultural Expeiimen t Stat ion
of the Alabamra Pols technic Institute
Auiburn, Alabama
E. V. SmiTHi
COx T WILuSON
CHS. F. SIMMsONS
KENNE'rii 13. Roy
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