, ;_ ., , y>or agcmcnt(AD[,:) Iaui 11 .... .. ...... .. .. . .. iroto the AAFS. In a parallel stutdy. ADE1'N conducted a techCola nical assessiieiit to iank the 25 indUiia itll \, si \\uC i Huar pirohleims. '[lie i esalts fromi hoth studies wxill he cotipated to deterR.unk, a1c h,NL oni mlianl itkedt riiks iin onkt oni of tte iniie difftereitces hetwxeen public 87 hth~ll ik an t 1 itt and scientif ic perspectiveCs on~n cat \xc il i , . .. ..... Miii Roats t iist ........ 6 7 8 4 8 t12 8 9 7 ci Cllicietit llocatittn itt puhlic agenies. Assistant of Fishelc Aytttiitut c: resont ccx by lllltlii iN a Griaduaite Re~ecli It t....... and itllIticd tc a ii Motnal k Aluntl o iIOy n scores: t iliac~tIsiik tac .iLti 193 raiikeclI 5 Li c ttice LiiC'itiCN i ii iii ditt o 1 ua conomj~iiici Iisks. Respoiietiis AIobotmtu Aglc'uilticrul Lprinteitt .Sttion E.W. ROCHESTER AND L.M. CURTIS ALABAMA STREAMS CAN PROVIDE MORE WATER FOR IRRIGATION T Researchers studied three streams in the Tennessee Valley area: Piney, Limestone ers wish they had saved some of the rain that fell on Alabama during the and Indian creeks. These streams are adjahe dry summer of 1993 made farmwet winter months. Thanks to an cent, flow through similar geological forAAES project, they may soon be mations, have existing stream flow data, and are in an area where irrigation from able to do just that. AU agricultural engineers are develop- streams is increasing. Researchers used two stream flow meaing methods of storing excess stream water during the rainy season for use in summer surements - (1) the mean flow, an average irrigation. One goal is to evaluate the poten- of stream flow over a relatively long time tial of pumping water into off-stream reser- period, usually many years, and (2) the voirs. In an initial phase of the study, they "seven-day Q2," an average of the seven examined water availability in representa- lowest consecutive daily flows in a twotive Alabama streams. Their findings form year period. the basis for developing a procedure to They used this analysis to compute how determine how much water can reasonably much water could be removed during times when flow was above a given minimum be removed from a stream. On-stream reservoirs can be used to store level. Computations were made based only water from winter stream flows, but they are on flow rates from January to April, when not always practical. Summer pumping Alabama receives much of its rainfall (see provides water to a few farms, but problems the figure). Having such data computed on an annual basis does not provide a good estimate ne July Aug.Sept. t" , ,,,Oct. INov.IDec.IJan.I Feb.IMar.IApr.IMaylJu 2n r f of how much water can ink, I " -I~ to apply 12 inches to each acre irrigated. Using this rule, adequate water would be available from Limestone Creek nine years out of ten so long as the irrigated acreage does not exceed 17% of total watershed acreage if pumping is limited to flows above the mean flow. If pumping is initiated above the seven-day low, adequate water will be available as long as the irrigated acreage does not exceed 50% of the watershed acreage. Having the flow data makes computing the amount of available water relatively easy, but farmers must also know when to stop pumping. This is a tougher question that deals with environmental impact and societal values. The AAES project sidestepped that question for now, but will address the issue later. There may be competing uses for water to consider in determining availability. As the demand for water increases, there will be PREDICTED VOLUME OF AVAILABLE WATER FOR LIMESTONE CREEK, JANUARY-APRIL ta - - Mean flow 7-day 240 ,160 low flow be expected, but using the information to make Probability Minimum pumping rate1 Mean Flow 7-day Q2 Acre-in./a.2 5.9 12.0 statistical predictions 80 a\I . . . . . does provide the desired results. Preliminary results are shown in the table for Limestone Creek. The 90% probability shown in the table 50 100 I I Pct. 90 ................ 50 ................. 1 Acre-in./a.2 2.0 5.2 text. Mean flow and seven-day Q2 are defined in the least that amount of water will be available nine Daily stream flow for Limestone Creek, 1969-1 970. Data provided years out of 10. A larger by the Tennessee Valley Authority. amount of water can be arise when more users try to pump from the expected one year in two (50% probability). Values presented in the table are distribsame streams. Pumping water from streams during high uted over the entire watershed supplying the flow and storing it in off-stream reservoirs water. Since only a part of that land is appears to be one high-potential option. farmed, and only a portion of the farm land This method may alleviate problems related will be irrigated, more water will be availto competition for summer runoff, land able to the irrigated land. The amount of water needed varies with ownership, reservoir site availability, and wetlands destruction, while making more weather, crop type, and irrigation system efficiency. One rule is to store enough water water available for everybody. Time, days 0 3 I means that on average at Acre-inches/acre = the number of inches of water an acre of farm land can get per each acre of the watershed. 2 150 200 250 less available for pumping directly from streams. The use of water management districts might make the water more generally available and reduce the possibility of disputes over usage. Of course, having water available affordably is a separate issue. Other studies will focus on the economics of off-stream storage and strategies for implementing long-range water resource development. Rochester is Associate Professor and Curtis is Professor of Agricultural Engineering. Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station J.C. LIN, B.R. MOSS, K.A. CUMMINS, D.A. COLEMAN, AND R.C. SMITH, Ill EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT COOLING AND MANAGEMENT REGIMES ON MILK PRODUCTION A th iiughot the South is the effect ofprolIon ged heat Striess on miilk m ~e o d ai ry p rI e ' a jo () n rn o du r produetion. COWxS olften eat less duinghu hot 'Aeather. 'Ahich reSils in loxxer milk prodnetion. Moditying diet andl em ploy~in g management practices. Such as proi di shade or Spri nklin i animals ng wAit wAater, are generally reeom mended to h tectS ot heat Stress. reduce the et Manyx da iry operations~ t hrugiihouit the State ntiliiec tans and a 'Aater mist to assist in coling both air and cowAs. How~exer, this eonstant mist ot 'Aate max layer a blanket ot 'Aonld reduce hunmiditx on the eox, s.'Ahich the Coolin iefecet. HowA Such sx Stelil atftect apparteed intake and milk piroduction iS lot ent, so an AAES Study 'Aas conducted at the I:.V. Smith Researeh Center D~airy U nit, S h(ort toIcom pare teed in take, miiilk pro-l er, duietioii. itilk comlposition, and othei factoirs fans and wxater spii nk leis to reduee heat CowAs ini Conoling iiciiiielis II)(onirol 12)tidu/taii ieids,. fil/d) Milk 3s'oiiot(\t Rcliai BoI w igh..... of coxxs muaintainedt under ditfferent cootiiie' regimes slurimiel hot xxeathei. I lirtx tnine lactatine Hotsteins axeracuig wxere assigned to three 156 dax s in ititilk ditfteiint env ironiimeints from June 15 to Sepeire: temmiber 7. I1992. 1Treatments %A (A)\ reen'u tar mrnaaemutenit as a contriol: (B) hr osed iindoo~r 'Aith limited fbreed-air cooling- tromii h Turbo-A ire higheler f or coxxs under Treatment B (37.8 Ifanis: and (C)hou sed inidoor wAit Alc/hmuct A i-irultirralE.yeriinelit Slution the control group 'Ae e iiutside tfixe to si \ hours at dtay aiid at night Co"S ini three teatnlent,, all e, were ted and milked at the samine timne. Fans and 'Aater operated wAhen aii temperature 'Aas greater than 78"F. For Treatment C. tans were on 'Ahen ciutinuouSlx temperatuieS exceeded 78''F and i nteirmittent 'Aater 'Aas Spinkled at 10( psi for fI L three- Cows cooled with Turbo-Aire fans and water sprinklers at the minute cycles per hour. E.V. Smith Research Center. T he ax erage maximnum indoor temperature for treatments A poumnds per day) and eonsidem abE higher I or COW'As under T reatment C (40.9 poundS pei and B 'Aere essentially the same 187.1"'F). H-owAever, Treatment C dax ) thian for cowAs under the cointrot (36.1I had a significantly lowAer pomunds per day). Treatmnent C St ii 111ated teed intake, resulting in higher milk prodiictemperature (77.2"F) and reduced temperatur e tioni by five and nine pounds perdaxy oxver the ox er the use of a tan otther Systeims (treatments A and 13.respec(3)itail/Spiinkici in dairy co'As dimrine1 hot 'Aeather. tix et) alone. The minimum indoor temperature ot atl The milk tat content for cO'As under Treat41)9 treatments did not dif- ment B (3.60c/- tended to be hipeher than .54 3 'Aas 364 hilbt tei. As expected, the those uiider Treatment A (3. .54.1 not dliffetrcint fr m tho se unider Treatmienilt C telative hmumiiditx wxas LiA s 3.47(r )Milk protein content (3.2'3(,( higher tor Tr eatmeiit C 3.47 not atftected by treatments. treatth an tor othter tw'Ao In this St udy . DMI and milk prx duet ion mentS (90(/ xersus 70(%), increased 'Aith decreasing maxi mum temdue to hig1h moistui e con?).54 tent in Treatment C pematuire. Redumeing the enx ironmental tem) 2.29 caused by 'Aater sprinit peaturie by use of a lpropl.r coolinig Systeim duiiing ho(t wAeather may increase DMI and kling in the system. conibinatin of Effects of treatments milk pi oduetion. Use ot at pmrescnted in the table. The tans and 'Aater sprinklers increases DMII and on coA s amre uer respiriat ioii tate bireaths per m inuiite) of c xxs milk produuct~i nx the use ot tanS aluine. i Add itionmat infotrmat ion on operation co st s under the txxo iiidoor treatments wAas lowAer and coimparison ot other sy stems are needed. than for cow s uiider the control treatment: hoA ex er. the iiidooi .cooled" treatment melin is, Researich Assoeiatc. Mss, ik Pi iilesSor sulted in the loxx est respiration rate ot the anid C'uleiuan and CunutitilS are \,ssociauie Pirotesthree ditftereiit tireatments. sor,sol .\iiial and D~airx Sciences: Smith is Superightly intendent oflthe IN. Smtith Reseaich (Center tDaii N Dry matter inttake (DMI) 'A as sl a C. W. COOK, S. R. SHATTLER, H. L. STRIBLING, M. K. CAUSEY SURVIVAL AND DISPERSAL OF WHITE-TAILED DEER RELEASED IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA laam UiCarrit I has approxi mlyi~ 1.5 million wxhite-tailed deer, with all counties havi n huntable populations. However. one areca in Alabama where deer numbers have remained below desired levels is the 180,000) acie William B. Bankhead Nationtal Forest (B1N F), in Lawrence and collart stec ndfi nal ly,. due to dctioainO the latex tubingfl ofd. iloni - 5, within one year. Radi also we rc mortaliysntv. Once a collar remaie doin less fora periodl of apprxmtl tive hours, transmite dinl Winston counties. Hunter success has rechanged from a slow beep to a mained very poor despite conserv ative har- rapidl beep. vest of primarily *.antlered only'' deei. As a Deer were located usine, result, the Alabamta D)epartment of Conser- aerial telemetry and locations vation and Natural Resources Game and were taken at least thi-ee tinmes ,±r Fish Div ision, and the U.S. Forest Serv ice weekly for one year until radio began a restockintz progwram on BNF in order collars fell of f. failed, or until to icase the sizc of the local (leer herd. contact wxas lost. Each deer wxas located once In winter 1990, 114 deer fioim Fred T. pci day and its location was plotted on at map. Stinmpson Sanctuary, located in Clar ke A deer wxas considered to hav e suirviv ed County. weie released in BNF. Return of ear the study period if it was still aliv e at the time tags placedl in (leer released in 1 990 indiits iadio collar tell oft or (quit tunctioning. cated irelocated (leer may be leavino BNF-. Dispersal wxas recorded as the maximum The iestocking program was continued distance an indiv idual was located from its during winter 1991, releasing 148 deer onto release site an d as th e distance from the the 13NI - In order center of its home to deteriiine the range to the reSUR A]ssi,o DISPn orsDitiz RRi D I~ o [N Numjisiiui Ai slissisv tate of stocked (deei. lease site. xxi dl ife reseatrcheirs One hundred Adult Stibadult Subadalt miates mates femoales frot Aubuin Utlnipercent of adult versity placedl radio males andl 82(/ oft Suritsat(74) ........... 100) 81.8 81.8 transmitters onl a youing males and Iean MaximumI D~ispeisail milcs) ........ 9? 4.5 8.3 select group of (leer young females Mean D~istancke during the 1991 risurv ived the study to (cntlm lease. Transittilers periodl. Four aniof Homite Runge ( mile).. 4.5 3.8 5.9 wercie placedl on II mals (two Youngg males and(1 I feImales. txxo young males of less than I.5 years of age and 10) females) died soon at'ter release. These adult males over 2.5 years of age, to deteraninmals likely died Ifront stress associthe mine if the deer would remain in the area ated with relocation. arid Survive. Deer (dispersed oxver a total area of The radio(collars usedl otn the deer we-c 221 .614 acres arounld the release site. The fittedl with a small (1-2 inch) piece of latex maximum dispersal dlistanlce for all deer surgical tWbing. The tuibing allowxed the had a mean of 7.31 miles anld v aried fr-ot 1ola 9 1.04-16.401 miles. Adult ]]itle dccr had the largest mean maximum dispeirsal distance of any group (9.23 miles). Young females showed a slightly smallet mean maximum dispersal distance of 8.32 miles. xxith young males hav ing the smallest mean maximum dispersal distance of all groups (4.47 miles). The distance trom the release site to the center of the established home ran es for all (leer had a mean of 4.8 miles. Adult males had a mean ol 4.5 miles, young females had a mean ol 5.9 miles, and young males had a mean of 3.8 miles. F ighteen deer cstabIished home ranges wxithin six miles of the release site. wxith only twxo (leer mov ing over 12~ miles fromt the release site before establishing a home range. These results suggest miost of the (leer released on BNF surx ived and remained on the area. Using these r esults as at guide. the restocking program should be xviexxed as a success. The tr anslocated deer should begin to reprodluce. ceventually resulting in a larger deer herd. Cook and Shattler arc Grtaduate Reseairch Assistanits, Stiribling is Associate Pi oteSSOt. and Causey is Professor o1 Zoology anid WAidlife Sciecs. AAll umiu A g'ii-iuliiti-alE~vj)e,-im)ent Station J. G. DYESS, M. K. CAUSEY, H. L. STRIBLING, AND B. G. LOCKABY EFFECTS OF FERTILIZATION ON PRODUCTION AND QUALITY OF JAPANESE HONEYSUCKLE DEER BROWSE lcitili/icd according to the soil analysis recommendations for honeysuckle (3.5 tons per acre lime and 136 pounds per acre) nitrogen). In June samples were taken from tieatment and control plots to estimate growth tall and winter period. On a large scale, forest fertilization could become quitc expensive, but if lim- ited to selected patches, could prove to be a cost-effeetive alternative to cultivated food plots. [or example. honeysuckle forage production in 1989 av eraged 2.481 pounds per acre at an initial cost per acre of approxi- Japanese and widely distributed woody everhoneysuckle, a nutritious green xinc, can constitute at major and nutrient content. After samples were taken, treatment s lots received an application of gp 7pounds per acre N, 20 pounds per acre K, and 20 ds per acre P in the form ot ammonium nitrate (34-0-0) and acomplete lertilizer 13 13- 13). In late September and early October 1989. samples were collected and an application of fertilizer was applied at the mately $134.00 (3.5 tons lime (n $22 per ton. 300 pounds I3-13-13 @ $9.5() per 100 pounds. and 300 pounds ammonium nitrate @ $9.5() per 100 pounds). A cultivated tood plot on a similar area, containing a biennial red clover, could be expected to produce an average 1.115 pounds per acre of browse which would be unavailable to wildlife fi-om September through December. The clover planting would thus pioduce less than half the forage compared to the fertilized honeysuckle, and would cost more to portion ol the seasonal diet, and in some cases the year-round diet, of white-tailed deer in the Southeast. The leaves and seeds also are eaten by cottontail Iabbits, northern bobwhites, and eastern wild turkeys. Recent AA[S studies indicate well managed hone)ysuckle can produce more fooid, higherl ual ity, and at a lower cost than many planted wildlie food plots. The study ar ca. located in Randolph County. was a 2.5-acre natural opening covered with a dense girowth of Japanese hone)suckle. The honeysuckle stand was mowed with a rotary critter in [ebruary 1989 foirn height of approximately six to a unin inches and all trees and brush were removed to reduce the variability of shading. Soil same rates listed above. Plots were sampled and fertilized in a similar manner in 1990. In 1989. treatment plots produced an av- erage of 4.429 pounds per acre while control plots produced 2.348 pounds per acre. In 1990. similar results were observed. Treat- ment plots averaged 4.335 pounds per acre and control plots averaged 2.270 pounds establish at approximately $150 per acre (3.5 tons lime @ S22 per ton. 300 pounds 1313-13 @ $9.50 per 100 pounds. and 25 pounds seed @ $1.75 per pound), and w ould not be as axailable when it is most needed. Dyess is Graduate Research Assistant. Causes is Professor, and Stribling is Associate Professor of /oolog' and Wildlife Sciences: and ILockabs i Priut sr of I niestis per acre. Because deer appear to selectively browse on the leaves. leaf production in treatment plots was compared to control plots. Using leal percentages and total pro duction for 1989, treated plots produced more than twice the quantity of leaves (2,481 vs 1.127 pounds per acre) as control plots. Nutritional analyses of leaf samples indi cated that for all seasons during both years. samples from treatment plots containedl samples were analyzed by the Auburn University Soil Testing Iaboratory. higher crude protein (16.5°1) than controls (11.1%). This research demonstrates that fertili Across the site. 36 pairs of' circular exclosures (1.5 square yards in area and six yAk, '4' feet high) were used to iestrict access by rabbits and dccr zation can often double year-round produc tion and improve nutritional quality in In April 1989. one exclosure of each pair w as selected at random to be limed and Japanese honeysuckle browse, which max be especially important during the critical .... '"Japanese honeysuckle A/ubuu Agriciilurol Experinment Stationt R. E. KEITH, C. L. CONNELL AND M. SUN STRESS AND VITAMIN C REQUIREMENTS High Vitamin C Intake 1 sure, heart rate, and release of certain hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline are typical responses. Prolonged stress -, can decrease immune system function, cause a loss of muscle tissue, and increase the incidence of stroke, heart attacks, and other conditions. Vitamin C has been shown to decrease blood pressure in some people and to exS hibit other anti-stress properties. Historically, the Recommended Dietary to reduce the harmful effects of Allowance (RDA) for vitamin C has been stress in recent AAES studies. set at an amount that satisfactorily prevents vitamin C intake was shown Stress may be defined as a strain, symptoms of vitamin C deficiency. However, current research is lookTABLE 1. PLASMA CORTISOL CONCENTRATIONS IN CYCILISTS ing at vitamin C needs from the 1 point of view of optimal health Cortisol Concentrations and the intake that might be Resting 21 1817 10-min. post-exercise 25 po st-5exercise 27 23 needed to reduce the detrimen- RDA(60mg) ................ 10 x RDA (600 mg)......... Cortisol concentrations are measured in nanograms/m illiliter. TABLE 2. BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS IN CYCLI STS tal effects of stress. Recently, the RDA for vitamin C was increased from 60 milligrams (mg) per day to 100 mg per day to cover the stress on the body Blood pressure measuremernt Vitamin C Intake Resting 10-min. post-exercise 112 72 110 69 from smoking cigarettes. Exercise stresses the body. Like many other stressors, 15-hr. po st-exercise RDA, 60 mg Systolic ................ .......... 120 Diastolic ... ............... 79 10 x RDA, 600mg Systolic ............................ 114 Diastolic ..................... 70 pressure, or force exerted upon the body. Short-term stress is beneficial, but prolonged stress can have detrimental effects. Stress canbe physical- smoking or exhaustive exercise; psychological -job or school pressures; or social - peer pressure to take drugs. No matter what causes stress, the body's response is similar. Increased blood pres10 some exercise is beneficial, but excessive exercise can be 121 73 harmful. For example, exercise is known to increase the 113 production of the stress-re72 lated hormone cortisol, high concentrations of which can break down lean body mass and depress the immune system over a prolonged period. Since cortisol is an indicator of stress, exercise can be used as a model for determining how vitamin C might help the body cope with stress. AAES studies have focused on the effects of consuming supplemental vitamin C while undergoing a strenuous exercise regi- men. In one study, guinea pigs were exercised in an animal treadmill. Half the animals received vitamin C at the requirement level. The other half received vitamin C at three times the required intake. After exercise, guinea pigs receiving extra vitamins had almost 30 percent less plasma cortisol. This finding indicates that the stress response to exercise was not as great in animals receiving more vitamin C. Another study used trained male and female cyclists as subjects. Researchers first established the workload necessary on a stationary bicycle for each cyclist to maintain maximum heart rate. After receiving dietary vitamin C at the RDA of 60 mg per day for two weeks, the subjects rode for one hour at 80% of their maximum effort. They repeated the ride after receiving 600 mg for another two weeks. Results indicated that plasma cortisol concentrations (Table 1), blood pressure measurements (Table 2), and working heart rates were all lower when the subjects received the higher amounts of vitamin C. Thus, as in the animal work, response to exercise-induced stress was not as great in subjects receiving higher amounts of vitamin C. These studies support the concept that vitamin C has some anti-stress properties. Doses of vitamin C that were above current RDA values seemed to benefit subjects undergoing exercise stress as evidenced by reduced plasma cortisol and blood pressure rates. While vitamin C intake above current recommendations may have some benefit in controlling stress, supplements are not necessary if one's diet includes plenty of the vitamin. For example, a cup of broccoli contains 120 mg of vitamin C; a 12-ounce glass of orange juice, 180 mg; one-third of a cantaloupe, 60 mg; and a baked potato, 30 mg. Other good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruit, strawberries, green peppers, and green leafy vegetables. Keith is Professor, Connell and Sun are former graduate students of Nutrition and Food Sciences. Alabama AgriculturalExperiment Station D.E. CONNER, D.L. HUFFMAN, AND N.M. AHMED HEAT RESISTANCE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI 0157:H7 IN Low-FAT MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS beef, pork, and poultry (chicken and tur- would be required to provide the 5D kill as mon, usually harmless inhabitants key). Products were prepared, placed in compared to the other beef and pork prodof all warm-blooded animals in- glass tubes, inoculated with a known popu- ucts tested. This indicates that E. coli scherichia coli bacteria are comcluding humans. However, the se- lation of E. coli 0157:H7, sealed, and im- 0157:H7 is killed more rapidly in AU Lean rotype known as E. coli 0157:H7 mersed in a shaking water bath at 122, 130, products, probably due to reduced fat and is a highly virulent pathogen that causes or 140°F. The sealed tube method is con- increased water levels. At 140 and 150°F, severe disease of the colon and kidneys, and sidered to be a highly reliable means of these differences were not seen except in the is a leading cause of kidney failure in chil- determining cooking processes. At pre- AU Lean pork sausage in which the pathoscribed times, three tubes were removed, gen was killed more rapidly than in other dren. Cattle and poultry are apparently sources immediately cooled, and the contents were products. At 155 and 160 0 F, E. coli of this pathogen. Undercooked ground beef analyzed for numbers of surviving E. coli 0157:H7 are rapidly killed in all products. From this, "thermal death" or These data indicate that cooking proand raw milk have been associated with disease outbreaks. Of the 16 foodborne "survivor" curves were plotted and D-values cesses of at least 1400 F for two to three minutes provides a reasonable margin of disease outbreaks caused by E. coli were calculated. 0157:H7, six have been attributed to mishandled HEATING TIMES AT VARIOUs PRODUCT TEMPERATURES REQUIRED TO KILL 100,000 CELLS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI 0157:H7 ground beef. The latest, Product occurring from November Ground beef Pork sausage Ground chicken Ground turkey 1992 to February 1993 and caused by under-cooked 8% fat 30% fat AU fat 3% fat 11% fat 8% fat 20% fat AU Temperature 3% fat 11% fa 2 hamburgers from a fastLean Lean food restaurant in several 5.2 hr 6.7 hr 4.1 hr 5.9 hr 9.6 hr 6.7 hr 7.7 hr 4.6 hr 122°F ............... 5.4 hr 8.8 hr western states, has re76 min 96 min 57 min 39 min 56 min 44 min 130°F ................ 44 min 49 min 32 min 48 min 0 135 sec 132 sec 135 sec 138 sec 135 sec 111 sec 165 sec 165 sec 175 sec 140 F ............... 144 sec ceived tremendous media 12 sec 10 sec 9 sec 8 sec 9 sec 11 sec 10 sec 10 sec 10 sec 150°F ............... 9 sec 0 attention. Two earlier out3 sec 2 sec 2 sec 3 sec 3 sec 2 sec 2 sec 2 sec 3 sec 155 F ............... 3 sec <1 sec <1 sec <1 sec <1 sec <1 sec <1 sec <1 sec <1 sec <1 sec 160°F ............... <1 sec breaks in Europe were attributed to consumption of 1Total fat content, 8%. 2 Total fat content, 7% . contaminated poultry. AAES research is foFood safety officials recom- safety from E. coli 0157:H7. At lower cusing on characterizing At mend a value of "5D" cook for temperatures, which would be indicative of the heat resistance ofE. coli prescribed meat and poultry products. This under cooking, AU Lean ground beef and 0157:H7 as influenced by times, means that cooking time and tem- pork sausage provide an additional degree internal and external facthree tubes tors. Previous AAES rewere removed, perature will destroy 100,000 cells of safety over traditional products. Also, E. of E. coli 0157:H7. It is likely coli 0157:H7 is more sensitive to lower search showed that heatimmediately that a contaminatedproduct would cooking temperatures (less than 140°F) in resistance among various cooled, contain lower (less than 10-100) poultry products than in other meat products. isolates from retail meats and the These results generally agree with previnumbers, thus a 5D process repdiffer significantly. Furcontents resents a large safety margin. ously reported data, but provide additional thermore, AAES work in were Data from the survivor curves information regarding product formulation this area has identified analyzed were used to calculate 5D values effects on heat destruction of an important methodologies that permit (expressed in time units) at vari- emerging foodborne pathogen. Results also the generation of more reous cooking temperatures (see table). The reconfirm that proper handling and cooking liable heat resistance data. It is known that product composition and greatest differences were seen at the lower of meat and poultry are the best means of environmental conditions affect the lethal- temperatures (122 and 130 0 F), at which the preventing foodborne diseases. ity of heat toward E. coli 0157:H7; there- pathogen survived well in all products. InConner is Assistant Professor and Ahmed is fore, this research targeted the influence of creasing fat levels further protected E. coli Graduate Research Assistant of Poultry Science; fat-reduction formulations (AU LeanTM) 0157:H7 from heat. For AU Lean products Huffman is Professor of Animal and Dairy Scion the survival of the pathogen in cooked cooked at these temperatures, less time ences. F 0157:H7. Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station 11 G.BB RUNION, H.H. ROGERS, S.A. PRIOR, R.J. MITCHELL, AND F.P. HENNING PLANT RESPONSES TO ATMOSPHERIC CO 2 ENRICHMENT: LOCAL RESEARCH ON GLOBAL CHANGE A front other itiStitti hatiec remiun coiii oxersial. there is net intcstable exidence thit the concenltrtat io n of carhon dioxide (CO() in the Lath's atmiosphere is tiotis (Thle Wo'ods Hole Research Instituite, Oak Ricdgc National [ aboranI.t torx .aticlUke t St51t ') ian bcietni I increasing. [his concentration miay double fromi its present cx el during, the inext centurv. Carbon dioxide is essential for photoSynthesis. wAhich sustains plant life (the basis of, the entire food chain), and plants wxill likeIy he directlx affected bx increasiuc cx ls of CO. Studies involv ing efIfeets of elex ated CO, on pl atts h axe pro ceeded wAit h inucreas ing, initensity dluring the past cxx decades and much is nowx knowsn about howx plaits, particularly crop plants. respond to higher cx els of attmospher ic CO,. In the actricultural context, mniai benelits of extra CO, hiaxe been ohser\ cd. The croxxing season has been shotrtened for sonic crops, the effects of mazx enixironmental stresses dix ugh!t. temnperatucire. Salt. dama cc from air pollutants. etc.) [haxve been reduced, and less xxater ucas generally been obserxved. has 1 ViritucalIx all studc to date hax e shiowxn ies enhianced crop groxxth and greater yicl: loubl inc normal ( ambient) CO, concentration results in yield increases ol abocit 3314 lor mianyx cr ops. H owevxei, gaps in undcerStanchding plant responses to elex atecd CO, Still exist, parti enularly' iin regard to root c(soxots and other bel ow-ground processes: the late ol 'ext a" carbon xxithin the plant! soil/atimospher e sy stem: efflects con natctral, non-agricciltural plant comnmunities: and the miechiani sris rces poniiible Ifor thle observ ed responses. Plant reslilitseS to elex atecl CO, ate ccitently beine researched at tie USDA-ARS Natiotnal Soil Dyvnamics ILaboratory. Rescilts ofnthese stcucies xxill provide itnformatioti to help fill Sexetral major gaps in the CO, database. Ihits reseatrch is jintly fcuticecd by the UJSDA-ARS, AAES, and the U.S.. Department of Energy's National Instiute lot Global Erixionmnttal Chance. This wxork is a licge collabotatixe etfort amng USD)A-ARS scieti sts. cooperators This CO, rcSea rch is beirt', condluctecd as ani itegcrated. mclispecies projectxxithi Open top chami bers, used to generate large-scale 002 test txxo miaini research atmospheres, dur ring the first year of the sorghum and soybean study at the USIDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics Laboratory. thrusts: o~ne Stcicl (Photo courtesyc ofPaul J. Hammock) cuses sorghumi and soybeanis as miiodel plant species anic the this researclh 'Aillexainte el lects of cotipeothier ii'olxves lorngleaf pine. All CO, in- tittoti amonic spiecies. as inifluenicecd by (0) vesti tattons are cirrettI takinig place by *irowAingi thiemi tocetliet to simuicilate a wAithinii opetn top cliatiiers wxhere these t pecal emrxitonietit. Other isscues hiettig planit species are exposed to air xwith art addressed liy this Stcudy itinclde hiatices in amicnett concettattoni of CO, (abocut 360 the llatvmabilitx cif planit tisscue anic the parts per miillioni) or to air wxithi twAice that elIfect s it firic-ic Iated platit rnetabol ites oni amioutit of CO, 'Aater ducality. Thle Sorghcumi anid soybeiani stcudy has two IDcurintg the fi rst year ol thle sorghiumn anic c pimiary focal points. The firstt is to detersoxhiati Stcudy groxxth anic x ield res pitlscs inite 'Ahat hIlants do 'Aith extIra atmiosphieric we rc siiliIat to ticetds Itfrm earl icirepiorts carbon iiiiox ide. [he Second ria cor fouicis of that inicicateh CO( enichimienit iticreasech this Stcudy is to investigate the ceffects of groAtli anicl ield oit bhithi species. ITle lighle r CO, (in root ctro'AthI antd othle r lielargest respoinse of Soirglltii anic heart sox los-< . CO,-indcicecd chianiges oti Soil conitcenitratiotis ol atmtiosphieric CO, anic 'Aill Ptrocesses. anic CO, ettects oin Seed cduality. eotitirilicte to the ktioxx ledge base upoi I le longleaf pitne Stcucy is lirimiari ly cx xxhlich futcure etironimiental stratecies canl amii iti the initeractinic effects cit elevated be hiased. CO, and resocurce ax ailabi lity ( namely cdifRuionttt is Reseatcli Lellowt ot Liii c-ti Rtteei letrences iin titroceni anic wxater) oni carhioni is Adjunct Pititesstii oi A' otiotti and Stil s anid all ocatitoni patteriins, ric iration, atic ro ot Lou esi i atid Plt i Physiologist xxithi the U.SI)Afunti oil. The lotig-ratige goal oif this icA\RS Soil [)x tatiics Labotorvnti: Ptrtot is Plati seaichlits to exainte. in adcditioni toi lonicleaf Phixsiologist. U.SI)A-ARS Soil tDxnatmics tLahorapine, the response of othier species ) xxirettrx: M Iitchell is Associai t Pofessoli of Foresitr: i grass. 'Aax mx itle. etc.) thIiat cornpri se a natuci MtidI lettl is Grtactuate Researchi Asstiocaie of) ral andc endanigered ecoisystemi. Ultimiately, Agi roomx and Sils. A laIuin Agri tinul L \/)C-imewt .Siutionu M.G. PATTERSON AND B.E. NORRIS TRANSGENIC COTTON ALLOWS OVER-THE-TOP WEED CONTROL variety which contains a gene making it immune to damagc from speciftic herbicides may prove to be a valuiable wxeed colntrol tool for Alabama cotton farmers. The new xvariety, BXN, was dexveloped by Calgene Inc.. a California-based company. It containus a cne from a bacteria that makes it resistant to bronmxynil, wxhich is sold by the trade name Buctril. Bromoxynil is registeie fc broadleaf weed control in corn and or Small grains, but will kill cotton. It is a contact herbicide wxhich has little soil activity. BXN cotton has been tested for three years by the AAES to determine its potential use by growxers. Field trials were initiated n 1991 at the'ITennessee Valley Substation. Belle Nina. to exvaluate weed control and crop tolleraince uising bromoxynilI on tiransgenic B XN cotton. Cotton weed control systems using hromoxynilI in conjunclion withb currently registered herbicides were cx aluated in 1992 and 1993. Bromoxynil treatments we re applied oxvei-the-top of transg'enic cotton in i5 gallons of spray soln tion per acre w.hen the crop was four inches andloreight inches tall. No visual inj ui} was seen on BXN cotton treated xxith hiromoxynil at rates up 1o 1.5 pounds of actix e ingredient applied twxice. Non-transgenic cotton (eight inches tll) sprayed with 0.5 BXN cotton (right) sprayed with Buctril was not p0ounds bromoxynil affected, but adjacent non-transgenic cotton was killed by the herbicide. per acre was killed. wxeed control piroxidcd by standard herbiWeed control by species for i ENAiI 1. CONusIRiil oi2-4 INCH '9. I siN [IIBROMOXCI~I .1l) cide and bromoxy nil systems. different bromoxy nil rates is All treatments received trilulin at 0.5 shown in Table I . Excellent Weed Species' pounds per acre preplant incorpoirated for control ot xvelv etleaf, entireleaf annual grass control. Bromoxynil applied PS 1C SIP MG VI Bro lmoxyil Irale morn in gglory, prickly sida. and tropic ciroton xxas obtained with oxver-the-top wxhen cottoin wxas four inches 11. PC t. I'c. P'i . Pc. Lb./u. bromoxynil applications oII 0.5 tall proxvided excellent control of morningh 8 0h 1 0db 90a 88T 0125 ............ 5 5 9 a 9 ai 95a 0) 01.5 .............. 95a pounds per acre or higher. Al- glory, xvexvetleaf, and prickly sida, but did 5 5 5 5 9 a 9 a 9 a 5 1.(1 ............ 9 a Fl nomet ciion not control sicklepod. though not shown. bromoxy nil 5 95aI 8 95a 9 a 95ha 1.5 .............. (Cotoran) applied preemergencc prov idcd wxill control common cockleMG= entire teat mor)1ningi)Iiiry VI, = eI\ elleal; PS =pickly bur, bristly starbur, Florida good control of sicklepod but did not adsida; TC = tropic Croton, anid SP =sic klepod. equately control velxvetleaf. Combining the _______ beggarxxeed. and two treatments proxvided good to excellent US[NC t iiCOi)NNiI 1 CIII I2. Will) CONFI0 SNNs MN I other broadleaf control of all wxeeds. Over-the-tolp sprays are weeds. Sic klepod Control by species' easier to apply than post-directed sprays is one impo~rtaint 5)yNtem'l Herbhic ide wxhich can injure cotton. PSweed which bromMG VI. rate SP Yields xxere not oibtained due to USDJA olxynil will not conPct Lb./i. reenlations. However, Calgene anticipates trol (Table I ). 9a BiomoxyiiiX (OT4) ........... 1.5 u B XN cotton wxill haxve good agronomic Mcthilazole (PD14) ............. (0.5 77x will not control characteristics. Cotton is expected to be 80h Mcthalaie ( Pt) ............... 11.5 grown on an experimental use permit in an nual grasses: Cana'iiie (P1)8) ............. (075 1994. and seed should be commercially therefore, weed 8Th F Iiiiineiiion (PRE) ........ 1 available by 1995. 9< control systems I-Iiiiineiiion (PRE) ....... 1.5 must be employed Br~omoxyil (1) 4 PattersNon iN Associate ProfeNsor of Agrononmy kI id. Lsing hiromioxy nil I'd. I,, aind SotiNs and Norris is Assistant SLperiinteindenlt ofI as one component. PRI )14 iiC 21 hc lopt1,4 InIch ci 11111 PD4=p11Cmcii eclecilii 4-inch ci momli tile Tennessee Valley Substatioln. Table 2 shows As AIlant mrhiid ral E~xperimte t Stwtimi D.W. REEVES, P.L. MASK, C.W. WOOD, AND D.P. DELANEY CAN CHLOROPHYLL METERS PREDICT WHEAT YIELDS? EFFECT OF ]MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON WHEAT GRAIN YIELD AT E.V. SMITH RESEARCH CENTER IN 1990 AND 1991 Nitrogen, lb./a. F method for determining the nitrogen (N) status of wheat that can be armers need a reliable, easy-to-use used to better manage N fertilizer applications. Applying too little N reduces wheat yields, while applying too much is not economical and poses a threat to water quality. Nitrogen fertilizer applications to wheat can be particularly inefficient because wheat is grown during the winter when rainfall is high and loss of water by evaporation and plant use (evapotranspiration) is low. If researchers can determine the wheat N status at critical growth stages, the information could be used to help predict how much N should be applied to a wheat crop. Recently, hand-held meters that measure leaf greenness as an indicator of chlorophyll concentration in the plant have become available in the United States. Because chlorophyll is largely made up of nitrogen, readings from these meters may be useful for determining the N status of crops, such as wheat. Unlike other methods of determining N status of crops that require sending plant samples to a laboratory for analysis, chlorophyll meter measurements are easily made in the field. A field study at the E. V. Smith Research Center, Shorter, recently evaluated the ability of these meters to determine the N status of wheat grown with different management conditions. The study was a cooperative effort by the AAES and the USDA Agricultural Research Service and was supported in part by the Alabama Farmers Federation's Wheat and Feed Grain Check-Off Program. Saluda wheat was sown following disk harrowing with and without deep tillage using a paraplow. Nitrogen rates of 0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 pounds per acre were applied to the wheat with 20 pounds per acre applied at planting and the remainder applied in mid-February. Half the plots received an application of Tilt® fungicide when the flag leaf was just visible (Feekes Growth Stage 8). Whole plant samples were collected at 14 the late tillering stage (Feekes Growth Stage 3) and just prior to jointing (Feekes Growth Stage 5) for determination of dry weight and N concentration. At flowering (Feekes Growth Stage 10.5), flag leaf 0 Bu. 1990 40 Bu. 80 Bu. 120 Bu. 160 Bu. Paraplow 11 22 Tilt®....................... e........... 20 10 40 37 38 36 43 40 47 37 44 35 45 41 Disk Tilt®....................... 10 21 8 No fungicid e........... 19 1991 Paraplow Tilt®.......... .............18 7 No fungicid e........... 14 6 23 17 18 12 27 16 22 13 24 16 22 13 samples were taken for N analysis. In 1991, at these three sampling times, leaf greenness also was measured with a Minolta SPAD-502® chlorophyll meter. In 1990, there was little re- Disk 7 Tilt®.......................12 e........... 10 2 sponse to paraplowing, but application of Tilt increased yields and maximum yields were obtained with 120 pounds N per acre (see table). At the 160 pounds per acre N rate, paraplowing without Tilt application actually reduced yield. Wheat yields throughout the state were low in 1991 due to scab head blight. In 1991 the highest yields were obtained with 120pounds N per acre in conjunction with paraplowing and Tilt application. Nitrogen concentrations in wheat plants were highly correlated to chlorophyll meter readings at all three growth stages. Management factors, paraplowing, and application of Tilt not only affected yields but also affected the relationship between plant N content and meter readings. Chlorophyll meter readings also can be affected by factors such as cold stress and choice of wheat variety. Chlorophyll meter readings taken at Feekes Growth Stage 3 were not good predictors of yield. This growth stage proved too early to accurately predict wheat N needs. Of all the measurements taken, the best predictor of yield was plant N uptake just prior to jointing. Eighty-five percent of the variation in yield among treatments could be explained by plant N uptake at this time. Plant N uptake requires measurements of wheat dry weight in a determined area, for example one-square yard, and laboratory analysis to determine the N con- centration in the plant sample. A combination of dry matter measurements and chlorophyll meter readings taken just prior to jointing was nearly equal to plant N uptake measurements in predicting wheat yield. Eighty-one percent of the variation in yield was explained by these two measurements used together. The ability for dry matter weights and chlorophyll meter readings taken just prior to jointing to account for such a high amount of the variation in yield in this experiment suggests that these two measurements hold promise as a means to predict the amount of N fertilizer needed by wheat at this growth stage. Since this is the growth stage of wheat when the bulk of N fertilizer is applied, and since both of these measurements can be conducted easily on the farm without sending samples to the laboratory, this technology is very practical. Additional research is being conducted to test this technology in combination with soil nitrate tests to develop improved quick and reliable methods for predicting N fertilizer requirements for winter wheat. Reeves is Affiliate Associate Professor of Agronomy and Soils and Research Agronomist withUSDA-ARS-NSDL; Maskis Associate Professor, Woodis AssociateProfessor, andDelaney is Resource Conservation Research Associate. Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station D.R. MULVANEY, J.D. HOUGH, W. McELHENNEY. AND J.L. HOLLIMAN GROWTH AND CARCASS 'TRAITS OF PROGENY SIRED BY HEREFORD, BRAHMAN, AND BEEFMASTER BULLS WITH HIGH ACCURACY EPD'S tender nsing be produced Alahama beef can different sire hi eeds it attention is paid to the qnality of sires used in breeding programs. IThat's wh fat results frim the l irSt 'year of a mtufti-year Study looking at expected prolgeny differences (FLP'S) Sucggest. [2)1' s hav e had incredible impact on the pn rebreed aid comiittericialI cattle ind ustry. Hlowxeer ci.I D's Shonid not be compared acro1ss hireeds unlt il adequate, acecirate data havie beein generated aiid aiial x ,ed. Considerable initerest has been expi esSed in using I' P's to accurately cilnpare cattle 'Aithin bieeds fir many traits. especially growAth aiidcarcass taits. tDeirce ilflieterosi. xwhich is the averiage suipeilority (of a crossbired alinimal compaired tilthe av erage of the purehireds that make uip the crioss, anion- dif feiciit sitre bireels niakes compaiison of data betwee cci d oiups dlifficult. Any fucture bi ad ilss-breed JFJ)J est imates of cenetic wA 1rth 'Aill iced tio acciounit fill heterosis. The beef iiclust y alsi col enc h if aceni iet rate acrioss-birced 1.11)'A wiii av ailable. A lonig-terni stiitl wxas iniliatecl at the Lin Lcaln, SI I I( G o ;k\ I I, ( 1<( 1)\ Year Iii i ( xieai- Sii i o Il 11<11 ii 13 n B~lack Belt Substatiiiii Marion intion. Rt \ Sirie Birt i 'A cain c . jhiiie" ,i fild '-i tlearn moi about re ciica.15 aeI the accnracx ofLIPD's 'Aithin aiid across Selected sire breeds. S hort-t erii goals of the StudyI are tio deterine relatix e clif cr- Ii Ahii 2.79 hi. /n .91 Hcrcliord ..... B~rahman..... 4 9)4 Is9 .005 1069 .078 8(1(0 lit.i 1'4 ?.5' 3.0i0 Bcctmaistci ... 3.42' 1.76 1.73 67. 2.1 RtA = ihevi areai: AtDG oerage dail) giaini ax Cices in mciscle growAth and tat deposition rates bet"A ccii sire breeds. Ini l irst xcai of the St udv B rahmiian. the Beef mastet, and H-cieeord siles 'Aithihigh aceniac aex'caning weictht EPD'. according to the National Cattle Exvaluation 'Acre uised ion Siniiiiental X Angus feimales. The sires chiosenliar the study ranked in the uipper 10(4 ill theti birced aind had EPD~J' s 'Aithi (reater than 0.9 accuracy. Bulls 'Aecie not randomly chosen, howe cxer the 0.9 accuracy ensurtecd that each buill beeii extenhas six clx used aind had si gnifIicatit imiipact on thieir breed. Cattle 'Aere mai ntai ned under coimmerci al cattle management conditiions. Bull calx es 'A cie castrated at birth andI placed in a coiifiiniment feedlot immiedliately at waeliniii claxs cof I 140 age). Feedlot diets coinsistecd of grain eonc entatcs. Steei s \x etc Calves bulls sired with ,. EPD's may be unfairly S discriminated slauighiterecd when ciltrasouncd back fat depths 0.4l iinch xx acicx cc. ainc the average crc age at Slfactghter 'Aas 13.9 monlithsi'. Data fromi the first y ear of thlis Stucd are presenitedl iin thle table. Miiimal dciff eretice s ini groAth arid carcass traits 'A rc observ'ed betweecci sire grouips. Brahiini buillIs teiided to sire calves 'Aith heav ier births. A iiational beef iniduistry tfca lit y and it inld icatecd that Bi aiaiian- iiifluieiiced feeder' calv es receiv e pirice discouits Itiom fe ccl'aid chuy ers becauise cif perceix cc groi'Ath aiic carcass characteristics at Slauightetr, particcilal Ixi ducced tenderness of selected muisclc cuts. These results Suiggest that calxes4 siirec by Biahmanin ifluieiicecd bulls 'Aith high ,,rii'tli EPD' s miay be unfairly discrii niatecd aga inst fin growAthi anic carcass grade traits. Youthfulness of the beef aiiial is highly associated 'Aith teiicerness. B~ascd oii labiiiatli ', tests, no biee cclciff ci etics 'A rc found foi teiideirness. 1hS ris escilts Cdtc ieLy deiionstrate that x ountg lean cattle wxith desiirable qucal ity giracles anic tender edits can be pricucecd iii Alabama. As addi t io nal d ata are oelcratedI ciom-i parisonls will be iiacde tol the axverages of respectiv e breeds ainc across breeds. iof 3~.~ Y -' against 5 for and grade ji;+, g rowth carcass AQtraits. ,~' Muliii dee is \ssuei~tC P1tioCssoi and \td lhennes is Rescairci I lloix ot Aniimal and Dairx Sciences. Hollimni is Supci intendent ot the Black Belt Suhsttuiu.: and Htuuh is Vice-Piesident lioi Amic an Pofled Heefr AcciiL ssoiieatiin. Alaubama Agricultuural A \/)erimnf .Stationt E. van SANTEN, J.T. TOUCHTON, J.F. PEDERSEN, AND D.M. BALL A Nrwr C RIMSON Ci OVFR termiination. AlU Robin also"expands the possibilitx of reseeding sysxtenms which xxoitld be mote economical thatn plantting a cov et ctrop cevety aututtin. AU Robtin has beet) extensively tested in Alabama. Fl orida, and Sonthi Catrolinia. In 15 trials conditcted oN er a petrtod ott tx e y ears, AU Robitn xielded an axvetrace of 3,51I3 poinids of dry mattet pet actre, comtipatreid to 3.447 pounids fo(I Tibbcc. The eatrliet lloxx eting is accomtipanted bx ear liet idry matter accumulation wxhich can either be used as N-releasing mulch tin cotnserv atioti tillage systemS or iUseid to pt-oxide tiit 100 ALU ti itton t(or lix estock. Robin 1 Robin hail Irom 40-921/ oif - 80 jTibbee its total seasonal yield at «0 the first cuttinc , compared to 31-72'% lot Tibbee (see 0 f igute). These first cuttitics 0 we re taken in February, « 40 M/Iarch,- anii early April foir Soutth, CenitralI and N orthI I20 Alabama. respectix ely. AU~ Robin seed produced in Oregon has approxi -edln n 0Crossville Prattville Tallassee Brewto mately I (r ofl hard seeid. First cut dry matter yields of AU Robin and Tibbe eexpressed in compared to 7(/ tor Dixie. percent of the total seasonal yield. This enables the citltix ar to lie eairly hird gets the worm-fl was thle idea hehinil the breedinL, program for AU' Robin. an ear lx natu1 inc erimson clox et cultixar treleased by the AAF -S at Auburn Ui1inix ersity in August 1991. ('i~i o clox er hias long been r ecogzted as an excellent wxinter coxe circop for Alahatmt, proxiding cirosion control by coxveriinc soil diuring the hea\vy rainfall imontbs of wxintter. F-or subseyuent cropS, it a!lso proyidex nlitrogetn that is fixed hrorn the air duiiiitlwi x ite -, 'tossth. F owy cxci melx St andi conts lot A U Robi n wetre abont ]AU 3.000 platts per acre higher than libbee at the 1-V. Smith Researchb Cetntet in Shotrtet anil abi ut 1.00(0 plants per acte loxwer at the Sand M(unntaitn Sithst at ion.In Centiral Alabama. seed (if ALl Robin x ill normially be phy siologtically tmatitre by mid-MNax . rexiultinc in maximum reseeidinc. At the Field Crops Unit of the E.V. Smith Research Cetnter, sore hurn grain ytelid lolloxxing ALU Robiti xxas eyitxalent to yields folloxxticL Tihbee, or wxtinter-falloxweid plots receix ing 120 pouttiis N petractre. AUl Robiti seid shoalu be av ailable for the I1993-94 croppinmi season anid baseid on its cenietic backgroiindl it is expecteid that Atl Robin wxill be adapted throughout the Southeast. van Santen is Associate Ptotfessor: ToUClton iS Prttessoi and Head of Agioniomy and Soils: Pedersn~t i, Fotte u -NI t~oie t'c Prot~ planttting tiscritital hir most snummtier crops to teach thteit fill yielid pottential. Producet axwaren[ess oif thlis fact resit ts inmiiart coxe r crops being hurneid idoxxn or ploxwedi uttdier bet ote thex are phyxiological ly mratuire. Whlte such dlx er crops prox ile soil protectiotn idutring winitetr, the nitrogern contribution to suhseiyittt ctrop is less than it could be. AlI. Robin xxas idexelopeid spectifically to adid tess the neeid lot an eari y-tiat itrticg xinttet legume cover crop. AUl Rohinm reaches lull b loo m 7- Itdiaxys earlier than ibbee. the earliest mat itrin micert imson clox er ax ailIable thus far. Earlier flowxerinc- andu seid maturity of AUl Robin wxill alloss ptoidicers tot pre parte lie ds Il r Sitmn er t-rxx cro px ea-I icr thatt they xxoitldixtth othet cutltix arN. xxhile obtainin, betiel its wxhich wxoutlid otherwi se oIt)ly be obtatneid by' delaxytnc coxver crop become reestabl ished the f(1lloxwitngca tutau-conduacted at Crosxxille Il tials anid ITallassee. AU Robit's ti-seilino, abillx \v , "intiill ti 1ibbec. atud Bl~l is ALABAMA At GRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT ST 4TION 1 AUBURN UNIVERSITY AUBURN UNIVERSITY, ALABAMA 36849-540' Lowell T. Fro bish. Director POSTMASTE ER-Address Correction Requested POSTAGE & FEES PAID PERMIT NO. 9 ABRALA. NONPROITORG.