of agricultural research ilr""a 4 I I d ~---~raa~c-~~ -----3 Volume 22, No. 4 Agricultural Experiment Station R. Dennis Rouse, Director Winter 1975 Auburn University Auburn, Alabama DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS ON NOVEMBh13L1 sitit being~ the 1975 1:3, siotme .3,000( ittis AgricutlturItal " ate t oec . . of this Statc jiniedt iti Appret ci ation DY ix lThis not oly Dr. ( anittc 1i- St stxlotik. profsso tle 1 epartntettt of Agt ooox atnd Soils. xxho is aluthor of the it title ott inl piiit,3 th roughoui~t thle State, htit this x'eai it 11ntluided at cel ebrt io of~l the 10l t h xyear olf serxvice by the AgrkeultlllItl Experiment Stations of this N at ito Thte Farm-City theme for 1975 A Detlar ation of Interdependetnte mo)tst descrip)tixve of agricultture's trtle itt the State and Nation anId tx en thet xxoirld. The dlay's programn ott Novtix ber 1:3 prtoxvided a1t opportttitit - if v thtose itt attentdancte to gaint a gicitil app)lreciattiont of the imoportiance of tI i paritnersh~ip iii our livecs that is utniquei toI the United States of Amterica. We atlso detected some sp~irit of the il) comting bicentennial of this Nattiti. R. DENNIS ROUSE It is certainily fitting that these three blend togeth~er, Farm-City progriam, the (ietit hl tiof 11Ii~ supplort ed agriti lturiil researcht atd t tt 210Itth A1 i0 ctsars of' the( U.S. Conlstitultioni. T his Nation's strentgtht ha~s heen itl agrttitt ue. an1 oth Con I t~lgressmn) atilli1 Nicho1ls atid (ix (' li l jo ttgi Wall ace remlinded its that even today our power is in the productix'itv of our agriculture. Althtough most peop le itt tlhe Uttited States tlittk 1 of'u its at tl itiduistrial N ation, ovxer 60%5 of' the total assets ofi all U.S. coirporation s antd farm s in tI is Naion is inl atgribuhine i iss. :\] abattma is not greattly different itt this regard front tlhe Natiott. it, (his story, lDr. Stats1 oook reports results of his itivesti- (rations of Icachltti of opl) pl~icd iftrogen frotm fat to otils, consideritig both cfticiettey of N use and( pos tile ground xx ater poillti 1011 from the tertjljtct taterial. This is jus mi accet of his tcurret i re stat~ ili t t 5 that Cetnter art ittt td it\\ 1 Ifertilize andt otttrgant ic xwastes a jp t'tI to sohils affec't ctiol \ el ds and t o tttni iita 1 ptilitv. A n)at ixe oIf Ot ix ilt. StarshFi tk did his III& rgt oduate stutty att Atbr Ultittni xci sitx antd receixved hits dtotrtate ftrtol I There xxere many) highlights of the (lay: Tours aid exhibits of agr itt ttutral treseatrch dep)ictitng a partncr21shbip bet\55eel farmo etrs actd ext tntit ij, agribuin ess, and( research; tlte del icit tis barbecue hinclit etit of' Alabama p~oultry , beef, pork, andi catfish; the manx, studetnts whlo assistetd. Also, "entertainment by tlte Auburn University Sitigers, Auburn Ktnights, atnd the Auibut I Batid; xxords of en(2ouragetnt and challenges by Auburtt Unixversitv Presidettt I1arry 0I. Pltilpott. this author, CSI3 Adiniistratir Hits Lttx x(rnt, (Commissiotner of' Agtricultutre Mct'~illani Lattle, Faurm Burleatu Presidlent jititmie Has s, atnd Gtixer nor WVallac e. The l i i that xxas pre' ieired fot- Alabam a, "Untfinish ed NIiracl es,'' slit i Id be seen, antd North CJarolitna State tnixetrsitv. lit joitned the 4 turii Schtool tof A gi tul t id AgriCtu rtal Experimeni t St ation ftttlt-v inl 195:3 followxinig setrsice ott tiht Ltosiatta Statte l~tiivet sitv faculty. Ile holds memiber ship inI numerous profiessit ial atnd Itoor societies and has rceiv ed ntiotnatl recognitioni for his teacinog anld tresearch. He served its illteriiatitial p~resident (If G~ammna Sigia Delta ili 1968-70. A xveteran of WVorld \*ill 11, Dr. Scarshlook retired from the L' S. Armx, lesel xe ill 1968 xxith) tle ranik of lieuteniant colonel. HIGHLIGHTS of Agricultural Research WINTER 1975 VOL 22, NO 4 I hope it xxill be, by exvery Alabthamian; the 1975 Yearbook of Agr iculture entitled "That We Nlax Eat" tells the stott xof agriculturatl reseat cl itt thte statte statitons atnit 1 hoipe xxill be read bx every persoti itt Aliabanta. A tops of this botik wxax hatnded to exveryoune leaxvitng the arenta, ttogethier xxitht t soiuth en tgroxn taipple anid a baig oif Alabamna peattuts. I ai confident everxytone thtoutght about ltt)d discussed Alabama agriculture ott th~eir xvav home. Iy only r egret is that cevery Alabiamtiatt xxas not priv5ileged to participate it) thle Day. Ott behalf tot agricullture, I xwishi to express pub~lit]\- ot- most sincere thiantks tol all xx\Ito made the day possible by their fintancial sponsorship or b ' their labor of' love and detlication. And to those thte producers of ftiod and fiber andi to their public servattt pa~rtn~ers itt reseatrchi id education xxht re-dedicated thteir liv es hot to memnories of paist atccomplishtments, but to future oppotrtun~ities so that "those multitudles of' the future may eat," xve all express our appreciation. Inettive is the driving force! Our free entterprise sy stett allos to be trantsformhed to acctomplishmnit. Scienitists p~rtoduce technology and fat nct 5produte ftiod, hut itt betwxeetn, cducationi and agribusintess are vitail. All four compotntents must have ott Iicentive incen~tive. A quarterly report of research published by the Agricultural Experiment Station of Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. DENNIS ROUSE -----STNLEY P. WILSON- Associate CiAs. F. SuIMONS---- Assistant T. E. CORLEY --------- Assistant R. Director Director Director Director E. L. McCR~w -----------------Editor RI. E. STEVENSON ------- Associate Editor Roy ROBERSON --------- Assistant Editor Edit aral Advisory Committee: 0. L. CHAMBLiss, Associate Professor of florticulture; H. S. LARSEN, Associate Professor of Forestry; EARL L. WIGGINS, Professor of Animal and Dairy Sciences, AND E. L. McGFwAw. Auburn University is an equal opportunity emyployer. ON THE COVER. Auburn University President Harry M. Philpott, left, and R. Dennis Rouse, right, present Agricultural Experiment Station Centennial Medallion to Governor George C. Wallace. Leaching of N- Problem of Cropping Efficiency, Not of Pollution C. E. SCARSBROOK, Deporfnient of A ono ad S~i L EACHIING OF APPLIED NIOGEN is a prob~lem that conern is 1both farmers and non-farmei s. Farmers are concerned about N getting below the root zone so the high priced fertilizer material can't be used by crops. The non-faiin worry is that nitrate may move into dirinking water supplies. Since efficienit use of N is essential for top farm profits, tie problem of N leaching is receiv ing emphasis in Auburn it o versity Agricultural Experiment Station research. Expci imients on coar se textured soils at the Foundation Seed Stocks Farm, Thorshs , and the Main Station, Aubur n, are measur ing the elffect s of plant population, rate of applied N, and wsater on nitrate innsement through soil. Rates of 150 and 300 lb). N per acre were applied to bothi cropped and hare soil. Corn was grown at drill spacings of 5 and 15 in. in 40-in, rows. The vertical distribution of nitrates in soil wvas measured several times during the y ear to a depth of 8 ft. Corn plants were analyzed for N uptake. Preliminary results shows that little or no N from thle 150lb). rate remained in the soil profile at harv est time. Corn took up most of the N from this rate - 95% in the tliickl ' spac'ed corn and 80)% in the wxidely spaced plantings. About 70% of the total uptake of N' was in the grain. Contrasting results weire r ecorded with the 300-11). N rate. A large portion of N wa found in the soil after corn was .s harv ested. Onil 3 0-65", ot applied N wvas recovered by the crop when :300 lb). -w applied. as Uticropped soil retained large proportions of applied N from boiths appllication rates. Watter is the main transporter of nitrates iii the soil, and dlepth of' leaching is in proportion to amiount of water fro rainfall or in igration, or both. The irelationiship betweenI 55atel receiv ed and depth of the imain contenitration of niftrates is shiown b\ the graph. Mloveiieitt of nitrates is extr emely vairiable, b~eing all ectecl I ot onllv 1) p iuaititN of water but by such f actors as rainf1all ' itttettsitv. Soil slope, evaporation, gaseous losses, atid moisture Nitrate moved down~ward tostor und. corn than on uncropped soil. Depth of greatest in soil inches - 54F 46- Cropped so,, 24f- - Bo re soi I 5 10 15 20 25 30 nfoll oaid irrigation, inches 35] Depth of nitrate concentration in soil was amount of water received. in direct relation to et) iditinis iii soil ss Icit wa ,ter is icclxed. lior xat i pie. at one, sampjling 32 iii. of i itinfali hid not mnovedi the matin nitrate concsentratint ibelow 6 in. iii baire soil. Doss nxxard innsemnent of nitrate ini soil wvas greater under corni thatn ott bare ground, at each sampling. The greatet penletrattions of nitrate uttcler cotn itxxas probably affected by gerealter runoff from bar e soil. Tise corn cainopy reduced impact of raindirops, thus resulting iii the soil surface being more conduiciv e to wxater intake tihan on bare soil wxhere tafinfaill impact tetdecl to seal the surface. This factor , aion g witht wsater being retaimned ins corni rosss, probabis resulted InI cots idleraiblv less runtofIf in corn th an on b)are soil. It is surp~rising that ittrate did not move dlowsntwa~rd more rap)idly its the Ioait sand or sandy loam test soils. One inmportantt reason is that texture of these soils varies witit depthit causing soil potre spaces to xvarv in size at different dfepthls. WVhent xxatei mov ing dossnwssard reaches at soil zonte whertde p~ores ibecomte either smaller or larger,. the flows of ss ater is reduced. Thus, either at coarse, loose, openi layer or at compjactedl, fine laser tends to reduce the rate of dowvnward( wxater flow wvithint the profile. Once the plow layer is satuiratedl xxith xx atet . the doss tssard movement of water arid disso1le itriate is gt eatix reduced. TIo date there hasve b~een no definite conclusions coming ftront reseamrch ott nttrate movemient anld loss, Tentative concitisins ate ats ftollos; 1. WViths at appliication rate of 150 lb. N per actre, little N is left itt tile soil profile after corn harvest. More ntitrate is foinintl t in ot) crotip)(( bare soil that got no N titan wxhere 15( 11)i. X wsas appliedl and cotrn wxas grownt. 2. 'strates itioS downwssarcd more rapidly under corn thnn itt bare soil. 3. W\itht 300 lb. of N applied, there are large amounts of itriate left in) the soil at the end of the growing season. This is t i wxhether corn is groxwn or the soil is left bare. 41. -\Incht more N is removed fromt soil by corn spaced 5 fit. in the drill tltit whx et 5-itt. spacit)g is used (both iii 41) in. rosss). 5. W\ithi rates oif N recomnitded for cott) fit Al abamna, there is lit tie or to cilatngetr of applIied N affect ittg the nitrate coittett of streams and( ground 55 ttcr. I N18Y3,.1 \ \ ii _s ',l Ni \ N i \\N an caliii' to Anhii(11 1st.,i aof ( :i\ ii W\ar hi'o, I.Lox ('rsit\ (tleii Aliad Aairciltiil 1 aiic Mlechanoical (College) axsthe fir st I)irectori of the i iewhi estab lishIed A ri icultural E'.xperimnt Station. Nexx mil I's logic-, i sprinte d in 1883, 1or the foundinig of it State agricu ltural experimenil t station sx stemi still holds true todcix . lie said, lVal mers genierally eannot -afford either the time or niolev to conducet experimients wxitih sueci aeeii acx aind( persisteiiev necessarx to irender x alualie resuits, hiene. the( need for at State xx stem of research." N ewma %,its au nthor, te acerl, and all c agriculturalist in his n ativxe Or an( CJountx\ irainia befor e tile (Cliil N\ broke out. I le grexx uip oii i isified farm, thocughi his later farminig encdeaxo., in Georgia %\ere coneined xwithi frcuit groxxing. N exxman xwax initerested il all types of agriculture, xxhether it xwas coni structing pondsi for food fish or groxxin llex vxarieties of girass for faim iminial grazing. Ie( xxas alxxays aler t for auix enter prixe th at woul c(1( omin e xwithi the tradlitionial ciittoni eulture ot tileSoith. Ile personalix conduiited explerimen ts onl FIG. Shown left is James Stanley Newman, the first director of the Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station and on the right is Dr. R. Dennis Rouse, present director of the Auburn Station. \arietie s of apples, grapes. chlerxin ries, peairs, peaches, figs, aiiid raspbeiesli to cdeterm ine( thIeir com pai at ixe 1(11 ctix elixx loud acidptatiioi to Aibiii~lli soils. v Newa ('x11,1issulflt'c i positio oIl(fle'adership) ill Albamal lagiricultuire after eomn ing to Au ni. Ile serx el ats presicdent of thle Al ab am a St ate Agr icul tirlli So\eitxs 1r01rgaized ill 1884. ciety, xxuc h The first soeietx lhad flourished beforec the Cix il Wa Nexxian xxax presicdcent of ,r. the Alaiinla State Alliance xx]heli lie left Auunin 1891 toi beconme I)iieetor cf I In 1889. Nexxmani started at xeries of eoopei atix e fertilizer texts xxithl some of thlt leacdin g I arm ers iii Alaa na. E at-l\ co~opceratixve expeimnits xxerie condcitecd oin farnx in DeKalb and Wilcox counties. Later liexx, xvarieties of seedl xxere tested in different soil regions of the State, xwith the Experiment Station furniishinig seeds and tilt' farmers ke'eping records of tli' results. Tile presenit s\ 5tem of researich, xwhich is coiiducted at 10) coitillig sohstatioiis aiic 11 experimental fields located inl dill erelit soil regi oix throiu ghout ti e S tate, is an outgI oxx h of Nexxmanis early e'xperiments. Recsults of' experlimlents imadce onl the Experiiment Station farm at Atihurn, xxhIichi consisted of 226 acr es of xxashed. red land that had bleen abandconecd fiomt xbefoire the profitablle ciiltixvatioin yeais Experimlent Station lo'gan there ill I 83, 4 STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE SET BY EARLY STATION DIRECTORS ROY ROBERSON, Deportment of Research Informaion xxtie of' such x ilue to) fairmceis iii the~c fairmers in other' siiil\nlnirii areai tilt tx pc niegiis xxere ainxioiis to 1)111tiei 1 itc Ili I 886 lit aii i'pernicntail program. farmiie'rs iii ti e Black Belt of Alabamai 1. xxas it pro(feCssor of' Agricoitni e.Al iar himnself at tile tT ii ti lsits of Viirginiia, Nei iimai inroughtlit new'x apptloaiI to teach in g algr icuiituire. flani A gricultulral ins t riuctiol n nuceri Newmx I (('ame aii] appieid scieniice, as h1e use'd resu lts ft1(1 ll ((ra tol " andc fielId expiiii('its ill tilt' classroomn. ini ouitstainiliig schl ~ piersiiacdec tiie State legislatur e to estabh lishi i baiieh expe'rimenlt statioii at eitas iliiioiitiixn. Ntexmani also s'rxe rector of the Black Belt Expli finent Staiined tilt tion, xxich xxax offieiahlx (Canebra Experime'nt Statioii. 1 ke 1 iirlx re'searech at the Caiitbrake Expeimfient Stationi dealt xxith the prodctiiii of oatts. Sed clxver, cottoni, ai c corn. The first research) publicaltion pill)lisheci at Auiibirn xxas iii Tix]\ of I 88., and it in clucdecd NexxwIiani's i 'port o)11 all aispects oIf the reseai c'h program. Ttests on English peas, Ir ishi potatoes, table corn, raspherries, cherries, a111(straxx 1(21ries were dixc'issed ill his re'port. Nc'xx man' sxtaff at that time consistecd of -N. T. Luptoin, xvfee-president and cl c'emistt P. 1I. Mell, I lliist; inid five' assist ants. lit adlditioni to is reisearicih xxiiik, Nexx Di rector Newxxman leflt Aubuirn in 1891 to ilecoire Director of the Agricultural Expeirimenit Station at Clc'msoii College. For the niext 7 xears theire xxas lio clirtcc tor of tile Expeifincent St atill ailt Atii) lii. lIn 1898, P. H. \lell xxas promotecd ftrli Boutanist to Diretor, aiic li h old the' e position until 19012. AXfter ainother 2 xt',rs xxithlout a cliirector. J. F. Duggalr took oxver the cdir'c'torship for 17 vealrs. Danm T. (;rax scerxe eit~s Director front 1921-2:3, then Ml. J. 1'inhexs staited i 26 x ear stay iii tile Diirictor's cliaii-. E. V. Smith seix'ed fiomt 1949 until 1972 ats tiic Station Diircctor, beifore it(' tuinidi ove thie wcilis to hi. Denniiis Houlse, 11c cr Il silit il!ictiii CALE. INSETIS, 55Iticl suck cell juices fromn the foliage, twigs, and roots of S houseplants, are usually small and inconspicuous. Nevertheless they are among the most troublesome pests of plants in the home. Plants may become infested and severely inijured before tihe pest is known to be present. Because the foliage is not torn or eaten, the injurN may not be dletected until dliscoloratini xx ilting, or stunting occur s. A sugar-like solution calletd "hones'v dew" is produced by mans' scale insects. hioneydewv deposits support growth of' sooty mold which ruins the appearance of the plant and coveris the leav es withi at black, soot-like fungus (Fig. 1) that inhibits the phit it's foodIi tliiiactuinlg Researccriet .)\tA ii U.nixersit\ Agi I cuilturl] ELvpci 110(11 Stat jul hasve idei itified 155 "fx'cics oIfstdi itisectpl c.sea is' s knowni to occurl it Aliia!ii \\ ilt, it 1st ARE YOUR H-6OUSEPLANTS "B UGGEDl"2 MIKE WILLIAMS, Departmenlt ot Zoology-Entomiology FIG. 3. Hemispherical scale on stems and leaf of poinsettia. FIG. 4. Citrus meolybug feeding on coleus. Isl. atilck *S It Io\ plattnts sx lich iI!eti li ilil Iiv t ~ttIi th hneirIreihuc \htst letite anud greenhouse plimtts are sltstl)ilt to infestation 1)x st ,ale iiiscts. Theii home clix irconent 1)1 iles Ut! li ox till wh ichcliencora ge lar ge pest Pill n ts lilills Itereore bollieowxxir , sitiid ci FIG. 1. Sooty mold growing on honeydew produced by cottony cushion icale on citrus. cai ill\x inspect planits to be sir!' thit the\x ai e I tee of pests before biirig 1 htliii Itl the hiomc. Sc'Ztlc in sects may Ocecur o)1 tins part of' the pl at t in clutiting vuntltrgroundt root. 11 F"xat tin i at parts of each tplttiit. part icit il the utletrside ol lc'ave s ittid ilplitI 14w blui. \Iatix root inlfestitig foillis canl he' httidt feei'ting on rootlets b1't ecn thii Scialt' insects toiniouls I otitil int thlt int' canl be iidtetd into three'c groulps: 111111 it scales, soft stales, todi eals- Adlult itiinet scale feitles atre aibout ill. long antd are coxvetred \\it itt cii ii.11I or~ostersliell-sialpt't, wax ttser cov I'in 2 ). rhey ate not ats i'ilttmioii itt ill lioln its soft stales or ilitttlxl~ s. I ftc, ('s of airmoredl scalles ailc It!ote'ctd Softe scalii ill citt is o mol Atdult Icinajes of both species arne about 1in. lon1g. I letnispliet ical scale (Fig. 3) is highly convxex antI dark browni at maturitv whbile the browvn softt scale remains relatix ely flat antd posse'sse's an irregular black stripe down the hack. Eggs or voutig of soft scales te protected by the body of the female until emergence. \leals hugs (Fig. .4) grow to about :3 16 in. long and appear dusted xxith at powsdery wxhite wxax. \letlx hugs generally feed on leav es, whelire [htev usually hide allong veins onl the undersurface. One female may lav (6t)) eggs, which are usually protectedl bx at cottony or xvaxv ovscproduced by the femrale. Some feed on roots of plants such as African iolets. The riitius iealx 1ug is the mcost common species found indoors in Alitbamia. Quite often scale in sects mna\ be mainially removed ftrom the plant using at smnall pin or forceps. \\']tell large nuin 1wrs occutr, cbein ical ci n ol iax 1e c cessarv to sax e, the plant. foI r V'erx fe'wx pest icide s atre Illbele use in the ]ionic. (;ootl colntrol has been alchie ed 1)'N usinitg rosol pr eparations oS(f ae px rethrit s. rotenton!ei ot SP1 382. Thec comnpound~s xxill lbe listetd unditer Y:I H ING(REDI ENT'S o)1 the pesticidle label. FIG. 2. frond. Palm scale on ornamental palm ix ill Ai~labaima hliics itrt the 11lillt Sprax' ev er" xIt dax fot tiitc trtleetts \s spherical stile antI the lbrowni soft ,ct li'. 01r until scale i' 110 lotwige It cscttt. fllili EFFECT OF IRRIGATION AND NEMATICIDE ON OCTOBER-NOVEMBER RYE FORAGE PRODUCTION, WIREGRASS SUBSTATION Irrigation, Nematicide Boost Fall Rye Production C. S. HOVELAND, Dept. of Agronomy and Soils R. RODRIGUEZ-KABANA, Dept. of Botany and Microbiology J. G. STARLING and R. M. MIMS, Wiregrass Substation Treatment Not irrigated Irrigated ---Irrigation + nematicide-Water applied, inches Number of irrigations . Dry forage yield per acre 1972-73 1973-74 1974-75 Average Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. 580 250 540 460 1,470 1,380 940 1,260 1,690 1,930 1,280 1,630 2.5 5.5 4.5 3 6 4 lb. on unirrigated land. Irrigation increased forage yield the most in 1973, about 4 times, and the least in 1974, when yields were doubled. combine to limit fall production of winter annual forages in Alabama's Wiregrass. Although both problems usually are naturally overcome by December or January, the early season loss is enough to create interest in irrigation and nematicide application. MOISTURE SHORTAGES AND NEMATODES The major effect of autumn irrigation was to increase fall production of rye. However, it also improved stands and spring production of Yuchi arrowleaf clover, see graph. Irrigation improved the dependability of high quality forage for grazing in early autumn. Irrigated land had forage ready for grazing by mid- to late October in all 3 years of the experiment. Without irrigation, the 1972 and 1973 rye crops had no forage available for grazing before December. Nematicide Use Less Certain Application of Furadan nematicide at planting substantially increased autumn forage yields of irrigated rye, see table. The highest response was a 40% yield increase in fall 1973. The nematicide did not affect forage yield in winter and spring. Nematode populations were relatively low in untreated soils of the experiment. Soil populations of meadow and stubby root nematodes were reduced, however. Although advisability of using nematicides with winter grazing crops was not definitely established, results of the Wiregrass study suggest profitable use of irrigation where equipment is already available. Improved dependability of autumn rye forage production as shown in the test indicates potential for early fall grazing by timely irrigation. Dry forage per ocre, lb. 3,0002,5002,0001,5oo001,000 Need for supplemental moisture is well established, since fall months are usually dry in the Wiregrass and soils of the area have limited water storage capacity. Nematodes are known to seriously reduce yield of such row crops as peanuts, but their effect on forages is not definitely established. As reported in the Fall 1974 issue of Highlights, however, nematodes cause sharp yield reductions of tall fescue on sandy soil. Research Shows Potential Potential increases in production from irrigation and nematicide application are indicated by results of a 1972-74 Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station project at the Wiregrass Substation, Headland. Autumn irrigation of 2.5 to 5.5 acre inches of water increased October-November rye forage yields 174% on the Dothan sandy loam test soil. Application of Furadan nematicide boosted autumn forage production 29%. Wren's Abruzzi rye-Gulf ryegrass-Yuchi arrowleaf clover was the pasture mixture grown for the experiment. Planting was done September 20 each year on summer fallowed land. Some of the plots were treated with the nematicide Furadan 10G (carbofuran), 4 lb. per acre, before planting. Nitrogen applications of 50 lb. per acre were made at planting, in November, and again in late January. Irrigation water was applied by sprinkler irrigation according to a water budget. Up to a total of 1 in. of water was applied in the plow layer. It was assumed that soil water storage was 1 in. and loss from soil and rye was 0.1 in. per day. Therefore, water was applied every 10 days unless rain fell. Forage was harvested by clipping every 3 to 6 weeks from autumn until spring. Irrigation Effective Clover [ Rye-ryegrass/ :on- nII/ a/IH VJ 'i/// ,t h Rainfall was inadequate for satisfactory autumn forage growth in all 3 years. Moisture deficit was especially severe in 1973 when only 0.9 in. of rain fell in late September, 0.1 in. in October, and 1.6 in. during November 1-22. Total irrigation water applied varied from 2.5 in. in 1972 to 5.5 in. in 1973, see table. October-November dry forage production averaged 1,260 lb. with irrigation, but only 460 500 NI Nov. 8 H7A I N I NI Dec. 11 Jan. 14 I NI Feb. II I NI Apr. 4 I NI May 21 Seasonal distribution of forage and amount of clover in forage of rye-ryegrass-Yuchi arrowleaf clover mixture under irrigation and non-irrigation, winter 1973-74. PROTEIN supplement out of beef finishing rations appears to be false economy. While per ton feed costs are lowered, steers gain slower and there is no reduction in cost per cwt. gain when non-supplemented feeds are used. That was the general finding of a 3-year fattening test at the Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope. Steers that had grazed rye-ryegrass-Yuchi arrowleaf clover for 167 days (Nov. 23May 9) were divided into four groups for finishing on test rations containing different supplements or no supplement. Supplements compared were soybean meal (the most comrnmon one used in the area), a liquid protein supplement, and a corn-urea mix. The non-supplemented ration had the same feed ingredients, except no protein supplement was included, as shown in the table. The liquid and corn-urea products are considered nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) sources of protein. All mixtures were fortified with sulfur and potassium since it was thought that such addition would improve efficiency of utilization of rations containing the NPN materials. Sovbean meal was used at 10% of the mixture in Ration 1, which represented the standard finishing feed. The liquid concentrate (Rico-95), used at 4% of Ration 2, is a can', molasses base product with 95% protein equivalent that is sold as a nutrient balancer for feedlot rations. Ration 3 had 7% Golden Pro-60, which is a mixture of ground yellow corn STEER FINISHING RESULTS ON RATIONS ITHIP Dt IFEENTI PIROIEIN SUI'P'1.E ENTS, GULF COAST SUBSTATION, 1972-74 LEAVING i ~ ~--- ci 8 5~ % Choosing Protein Supplement for Steer Finishing Rations R J. R. HARRIS and W. B. ANTHONY, Department Animal and Dairy Sciences R. McDANIEL, of E. BARRETT and N. Gulf Coast Substation 3-year average result, by ration Item Ration 1, Ration 2, Ration 3, Ration 4, cornno sosybean- liquid meal supp.' urea supp. 72.5 15.0 10.0 1.0 1.0 40.5 13.1 73.5 95.80 78.5 15.0 4.0 1.0 1.0 + 0.5 12.1 71.0 84.07 75.5 15.0 7.) 1.0 1.0 82.5 15.0 1.0 - 1.0 0.5 8.8 73.5 83.67 Ration components, pet. Ground shelled corn (;round grass hay Protein supplement ... S alt -- - - - - -- Dicalciium phosphate Vitamin A3 .. D)ynamate Crude protein (actual) and urea having 60% protein equivalent. This corn-urea mixture was heated and extruded through a special die during manufacturing. Ration 4 got no supplement. Protein contents of the supplemented rations were similar, but the non-supplemented mixture was considerably lower in crude protein, see table. All feeds were full-fed during test periods that averaged 101 days. Each steer received an ear implant of three 12-mng pellets of resorcylic acid lactone + 0.5 13.2 72.5 87.40 (RALGRO). Finished steers were sold for slaughter and TDN (calculated) carcass data given in the table were collected. Ration cost/ton, $ Steer performance No. steers _ Initial weight, lb. Final weight, lb. Gain, lb. A)G, lb. . . Total feed/steer, lb. Daily feed/steer, lb. Feed/cwt. gain, lb. Feed cost/steer, $ Feed costicwt. gain, $ Carcass data Average grade' 30 :30 30 30 781 778 778 777 997 965 1,038 1,016 257 238 219 188 1.86 2.56 2.37 2.16 .2,059 2,132 1,954 1,775 20.4 21.1 19.4 17.6 801 896 892 944 98.6:3 89.54 85.39 74.20 38.38 37.62 38.99 39.47, 11.3 58.21. 4.7 3.1 0.50 10.92 10.8 59.05 4.2 3.0 0.45 10.74 10.7 58.57 4.4 2.8 0.41 11.02 10.4 58.19 4.2 2.9 0.40 10.27 I)ressing pet.Marbling Yield grade Adi. backfat, in. Ribeye area, sq. in. ' Manufactured by Pro Rico Industries, Inc., Mobile; marketed through Rico Liquids, Inc., Aliceville. "Licensed by Triple "F," Inc., Des Moines, Iowa. ' Source of sulfur (KS()O, MgSO4) manufactured by International Chemical Corp., Libertyville, Illinois. ' 10 = average Good 11 - high Good; 12 - low Choice. 'Warm carcass weight expressed as percent of final (unshrunik) feedlot weight. '4 - traces: 5 - small. Scores range from 1 to 5, with lowest being most deirable, Rate of gain varied among groups, ranging from 2.56 lb. per day for steers consuming the ration containing soybean meal to 1.86 lb. for those fed non-supplemented feed. Those on mixtures containing the NPN sources of protein had intermediate rates of gain. Results of the Auburn tests indicate that supplemental protein must be included in cattle finishing rations for gains to exceed 2 lb. per day. Further, level of protein was found to definitely affect feed intake. Steers on supplemented rations ate amounts equal to 2.2-2.3% of their body weight daily, whereas those on non-supplemented feed consumed only 2.0% of their weight. And feed conversion was directly related to rate of gain, as shown by data in the table. Feed cost per lb. of gain averaged 3 8 ¢ to 40¢ during the 3-year test. Sale value of cattle averaged slightly above 46(' per lb., liveweight basis. Carcasses were Good (75%) or Choice (25%), with no significant differences among carcasses from steers finished on the different rations. Two major findings summarize the feeding study: (1) Protein supplement is necessary for feedlot rations to support good rate of gain. (2) Non-protein nitrogen materials used as proteiln supplements supported efficient gains. The choice of a protein suipplenjelt is basicall.\ an economic decision. Good land use ensures more efficient production. Although Blaldwsin is the lar gest Alatbana county, the 1969 Census of Agri- culturec indicated that Dallas Counts had the most total land in farms while Siadison had the greatest acreage of cropland. Total cr oplanid as a percentage of total land in farms was 68% in Limestone. the 1ighest of all counties, and loswest at 18% is W\aslil toni (ointv. Iii Clarke and Wiashingtoii counties, slightly more thain 65% of the farmland \as in wsoods, according to the 1969 Census of Agriculture. County with the State sias appi ox i n atelv 32,45:3,000( smallest portion of farmland in woods x acires. was Limestone wsith only 19%. Twvo ])road categories of the net land Onlx 2,752,000 acres, or 8.5% of the area are agricultural and non agricuItltural land areca of the State, is classified ats Ianid. AlfiCUlI iial land, wh.xi acc uit clh ooi a giiculItirll i land. This category of ed l or- ab out 29,71,00t10 aci-es tor 91.5%3 land use iiicliides uihan and buiilt-up of thc Stalte's land areca, included I) ar~eas, hig1 iss axvs, i ailroads', airports, irural J. H. YEAGER, Dupi. of ciroplantd iiot pastniil.d (2) til)ci pastuiie Ag. Eccn. and Rural Sociology pauiks, wsildllife areas. iiatioiial (lefense aid uthl op- l It tt alid(:3 fiInI oitst ) am aiiId ttidlaitll. Xx Ill 197), t ter-eage te- sites, tiilu.ti-ial arecas. State-own edl iistiater. \ted to eatch tof these toatl uses ala1I titi()ial Ilanid, sin all 1 odics of wx wxaste land, arid land inl miscellaneous pi opo t itii of Itot al a gi icli iti rl laond Nvcie uses. WXithIfurtl 1(1 gi (lxth ai 1 devetlop ,-IL i iCt( the resolurce u(Sised ill agicl, its lfolloxs5: init ini the State. mnail-\ of these uses of tural producmt ion. Laoid( is a i part i tiails\ I'lons. Pct. liand wxill ioici east. Som tvi Ispes of deimipotatnt rcstiure a1(1 ini ttiiis of p) sitit CS (roplitiid not pistied 3690 12.1 \elolmniits swill call for gi eatls increased cal lauid i ea iiud t11illitxvI flii is at fili )pc i pitstil antid 1 demnids for land. For- example, ii'eai ited aniOtLi It. It Must he tised x sl to ( thtir Ipcit Lind 4,645 15.6 plhmnts can take about 5,000( acres for mseet presenlt andt futuire' ites. cooling lakes instead of ahouit 40 acres 55 iSIlaii)I Alabamit's ptipsilatioii has growsn froii 21.:366 7210 Fiti 29,701 100.0 requiired for- ordiniary poswer plants. Inless than 1 milliomn in 1870 to 3.4 mnillion Forest anti wxoodlandi account for ai- steadi of a single subdivision, at news tonv iii 197O. W\ith aI fixed sur-face atrea forthe State and growsth iii population,' theI( moitst 2 out tof ev ery 3 acres of land inl may take land requiring up to 20,00) acres. tie State. land area per~ persoi has dieclined, sC( Agricuiltural land ats indicated includes USDA estimates indicate that 2.7% of tahle. nich mo re th an laind in farms. A ina jor the total land mass in the United States Sinice 1950, there has bieen a substanp~art of t1 e (lifterence iii total agricultti ral is used for- urban and industrial uses. tial declimne in land iii farms,, A part of lii i aiid latt iii fai ins is accounited toi- Bv the veai 2,000, it is estimnatedl that the dlecliniC is accounited for lix chaniges iii iton farm for-est andr woottdlandi. 4% wxill he used for such ptirposes. Conin dlefiniition of a farmu used bvt the Bu,I hi-c is coiisitdeirable s ii iatioi il in mJi s ersion of lan d from agricultural to nonevati of the Census in the Census of Aogiuis(, iiiiii g Al abam a cotiunties. Ty pes tif agricultural uses is occurring daily. Corn cu lturie. Harvestedl cirolandt li oxides the hasis soils anid their- pr-odutiit mIx. toptogriaph-v peting demands for land are increasinglx pessur-es. degiree of ijidusti ial at matter of public concern. It- iat ajoi 1 Ia of out- agriesilttal pro-1 poptulation i (luclitll. T his classification of, agi riiltur-al land bia~s ills d0leclinied ais p1)oul ation grossth Iioccurred. goinig fromn 4 crotpland 1I otal I't TI It I, Ii trxIed tces per leirsoi in 19111 to 0111v I ac re p)er pei-soi in 1971). Such trends~l potinit 1ip the sigfiliictaalc Thous. \Ii!. 01)1 1 -Alit. acfi _SVies td the iuemcised efficiciiev li1til iieutiii LAND USE in ALABAMA place5 ii Aiiriicaii agi-i itltiui-e. til I loss C5 iii oftssu such ti-ilds, oue is lacedl \xitli tliC quiistitoii Wtill huttii iniieiasts ii oducitioni effitiiictjv he tof iilagiiitiide sliffi( icuit to permiit furl tlier iirCasts hll pl)atitoii xx it ac it that has taken 19.1 15 210 1.5 15 20 .7 1-1 10 8 19.0 327.1 3.8 1:2 17.6 (liiiig oi (x\enlfaji coiistaiit algi at l icll ttiral laud hase? Alabii's surftae ii ta is :3:3,029.7(i'I acres. Inicludled ill this au are inlai I ca hodits of xx ter ofi 4(1 ,ivrs ofr molte tht 19701. Thtus tlie net landi -area of" 19. 1 20.9 16.5 1:,. t, if., 1w II f I II, t I! - I i II 5 "If, of popljliltion ifo , arca of :333,()2 ),-, Oo 1 1 1TI of \ I-'1_1 III t I IR ' ( fol l1w \citl, I, I, ,I I , I II I, illdi( ttcd. t ,, , II, II I _, i II II I I Ii t i o I I o I S I IT I I I it( INTEIRMITTENT LIGHT Speeds Broiler Growth and Improves Efficiency G. R. McDANIEL and R. N. BREWER, Department of Poultry Science M.NANAGING LIGHT is just as importlait for b~roiler p)roduction as for lay ing hents. H owsever, the lighting programn for broilers is quite different from that used tor la\ ers. T he purpose of conitrolled lighting wxith lax"ers is to conitrol the onset of egg prodhiction. In addition, light intenisity and schedules are used to maintain a high rate of egg piroduction over anl extendledl period. Ilroiler p)roducers, onl the other hand, have historically used light to keep) birds consumning feed on a 24-hour basis for maximum growvth rate. Open-sided broiler houses used in the Southeast make controlled lighting iunp)ossib~le during daylight hours. Such houses are being replaced, howvever, as increasing lab~or, energy, and feed costs are causing many growvers to build environmentallv controlled broiler houses. tusually these buildings are totally enclosed, alloxwing use of various controlledl light prograins. Light Affects Growth ing p~rogr ami. Such progirains peirmitted using short feeding periods followsed by dark as rest periods, -w hichi 1)1 liniiiiarY studies indicated to he most prmiisiiigr. Studlies iinoxvin g app roxi iia tel x Iti)0 broilers per mtitxere conducti 1ed ii cooItrolled ci ixiroi inten t cltamhibrs at the poultry research farm at Atubuirin. All management f actors - temlpeiratur e, air exchange, humiiditv, bird dciisitx , aind feed x- cvrc kept constant. All birds were started onl 24 hours light and kept on that schedule until 3 daxys of age. At that time they xxere placed onl one of these light treatments: (1) C.ontinuous light at '/2 ft. candle. (2) Initermiittenit light -15 miniutes of light at .3 ft. candles followxed by 45 minutes of dat kitess. Intermittent Light Best Although this lighting program is best sulitedl to environmnentally controlled htouses, it can he adapted for conuventionial open-type houses. D~uring day light hlinis the bir ds xxoumld he oiicontinuou01s lighit.coiiise, but at I ililt the liglitiiigT of wouiild he adjusted to 15 iniuites oii n 4.5 iiiiites off. I smini 2. EFFticA OF ni Em i KINt (ON licilit unit stni4 tilitx xxck Nvo iti x ~ .vu I ui wet ) Feede s-ersnuuI i ( titutil 5.0 11 I 4)1) 2.04 Delicaked -- 1.0 cI t)iv il c 790) Sleiiti. 1,762 2.16 Effect of light on i boiler growxtht rate wvas established in ear ly research at Auihurn University Agricultural Experiment Station. Broilers raised in the presence of continuous, lows intensity light (approxinmately '/ ft. candle) grew at a faster rate than those raised on 12 hours oif light and 12 hours of darkness clailx'y conslume feed. MIost commercial broiler producers nowx use this svstem and prepare feed formilAni F I. CoNrI-INUOU S . INi VBitiiLI-I~ Li(im'r OiN (;muhuxn RA'm OFii BBiLETIi s lations for 24-hour feeding. ~oxv intensity of light tends to make Treatmenit 1-week G~timu. 4- 8ui-weuk broilers less active and offers some proandl sex weight weeks weiglit tection against pecking and scratching. Grains' Grains Grants Furthermore, loxx intensity lighting perContinuous liught mnits growving more birds per unit of 8I 16 MNalcs 1.23 2t,048 house airea. 1,6112 902 9 Ffn1tlf 700 Controlled Lighting Tried B13x weeks of age the bir ds oii initer4 mnittetit light xx rc heavier thai i(thoseoi contiinuous light. 'This improxeen t eontinued throughout the 8-xveek trid, Table 1. F'eed conversion ratio also xxas better onl intermittent light. Both males and females respondred faxvorablx to the cyclic light program. Tbis response to intermittent light may be partiallyx plained lv (1I) less activity of the chicks, there])x coniservxing energy, and (2) the once per hour stiniudation oufthe flock to x u ctiih i More Birds Per House Iliaddit ioin tI b etiiefits of faisteri to e giroxxth aiid better feed elfficiencv, coin- trolled lighting alloxws moire birds to be growvn per house. This serves to reduce fixed costs. Greater broiler density is made possible primarily by reduced social stresses on the birds. As a result of coni trolled lighting. deheaking of day-old chicks is unnecessarx . thus avoiding still auiother stress. Performance of noiide beaked birds is superior to debeaked birds, as showvn hv data iii Table 2. To compete iii todax s broiler business. prouisicers mnust mnake Ilse of as mailx technical adsvances as possible. The ii I tei mitteiut light schcdul ha~s been field tes tcd oni a large conmuiierci al operat i aintd tI resutlts ol ued a gre wcxith Ali e itrtil test results. "Ihleiclore, cotrolled ligylititig offers ani oppurtumiitx' to make produi ctin gains it loss 'The continuing search for lattci growxtht rate and feed conversion led to tryin g a more completely controlled light- Intermittent light Males-863 726 Females t,329 983 2,192 1,710 454 ii lh1. co st. tI IO ALE is aI Cross betwxen wheat Ri (Triticum) and rye (Secale). Although this cereal grain was pioduced in Germany about 1888, itre mained somewhat a biological curiositx until about 1930 wvhen European scientists stepped upI researcih iii an attemt to (elo(11 triticale into a commercial cr01p. The first research onl ti iticaic in Nor th America began ini 1954 wxhen allI in tensixve research program wxas initiated( N, in .,'~ *~'yi at the Unixversity of Manitoba in Canada. Several commercial seed companies began marketing triticale in 1969 in the United States and conisidlerable publicitx has recently been givecn the crop. MuIch of the recent research was directed toxir (Ixield and nutritixve value of triti- 55 - catle grain as atpotentdial food source. Rcsearchi reported here concerns use of triticalc (' s it (i/il g cr op for beef steels Stocker steers, xveighing about 450 lb). itiitiallx . grazed the test pastures from October ontil \lt\, except xwhen lack (of forage or1 xxeiather condi~itionis xxerc such that thiey xr reimxved. Wh'lein off giaziI,' cattle~ \%lci Paddock at left is triticale, ryegrass, and Yuchi clover; paddock at right is wheat, ryegrass, and Yuchi clover. fedl toil SiLig ald Sup- lliesc calxres axveragcd eating aibouit 10011b. of CSMI, 130 lb). of corn, and 2,1501lb. of corin silage per steei for the (-\ xx k -xx ittering'' peiriod whIilie off gi a, nwt.i1)ailv feed wxas 1.5 lb. CSMl, 2.0 lb). of Corn, and about 33 lb). of' coini silage. Conclusions TRITICALE as a GRAZING CROP for YEARLING BEEF STEERS R. R. HARRIS, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences C. S. HOVELAND, Department of Agronomy and Soils J. K. BOSECK and W. B. WEBSTER, Tennessee Valley Substation Results indicate that the iriticale x aricties used iti this studx' offered no advantage over wxheat xx hen included xvitht rvegrass and clover in a sxvardl grazed b.\ xearliiig beef steers. Rate of gain and Experimental Procedure A test comparing xxheat aiid triticale as grazing crops for cattle xxas begun iii 1971 at the Tennessee V allexv Substation, Belle Mina. Wheat awl1(ti iticale xxere each groxvn in combination xwith i-vegrass and arroxvleaf clover. Onlx' cool-seasoii annual grazing crops xvere groxwn on the test area so that land could be ploxxedI in June or July and falloxxed durin g summer. Falloxving helped ensure good -taiids for earx- grazing by bonservi g moisture and controlling xveeds. U suallx the crop xvas plIanted (luring the last xveek o~f August or first xxeek in September. V'arieties of xxheat and ryegrass recoinmendedc~ foi iiorthern Alabam a xxere planted annually xxith Yuchi arroxxleaf cloxver in each of txxo, 2-acre areas. Coinlparistoi pastiures included the same forage citiniatioti except that triticale xx as sunbstituted fi xx hat. Fasgro-131 varietx of tit icale xx is plainted1 each x'ear durii ig this 4- x \ear stiidv. Also. Fasgro 204 an 1 .38 x arietics xxcre plaiited 2 x'ecars each. A complete fertilizer xxas lbroanlcast before 1)1nit ing, proxvidinig at least 40 11). each (if N. P. and K per acre. Txxo addtition al initro gen) appl It.ittins of t0 to 50 lb). ('ad i'xxere i :1 in jau iiiarx' anid Marchi. WAheat or triticale xxvas seeded at a r ate of 1.5 bii. per acre. Be arass xx-ias included at a rate of' 15 lb).iiid eloixe at 10 11). per acre. plenieit xxhle confined to pens in a poletype barn. The stocking rate of about txxo aiials per acre xvas couistant xxith in a gr azing season. Results total gain per acre favored the wheat combination during this 4-year test. Until morc cold-tolerant triticale varicties aire axvailaible, wvheat is preferred as a dependlable wxinter annual grazing crop in the Teniiissee Valley. Groxxth of triticale (luring early anltuin xvas somexx'hat sloxwer than that of xxheat. All three varieties were damaged bx cold1 xxeather to a greater extent than xxwheat. Fasgio 204 xxas completely killed both years in wyhich it was planted and stai-nlx of tile other txwo varieties xvere 40 to 80% killed by cold. Had there not beeii iyegrass and clover plaiited xvithi the triticale, no late xvinter and spring grazing xxouild have lbeen available. The triticahc-rvegrass-clox er Sxxard producedl the same nuimbei of days of grazinig ats (lid t he xxleat cominiIat ion, cxven though the starting datte xxas about .5 days later, see table. (:arrx iig ('apacitxN of the sxxairds xxas no~t criticallx evxaluiatedl because the stoicking ilate xx\as constat at 2 steers per acre. I loxx c r. the stock ing rate used~ was neal' opJtimium foir con-i ditions of this test. 1)ailv gain of steers xx-t, as ilici tin xxhat-x'ci ss 'loelthan oii the triticaic ix egrass-c'lix er, 1.,38 x\s. 1.10 lb). Gainl per acire fio 1)1)giazitig also fax ii ('( thle xx hait-is egrass-clox ci sxxat (I In uifitt 60) lb. 423 xs. :366). WFEAT AND TnITICAI.F IN COMINuATIONx x%14 lEGRnASS-CLOVi ii AS GRAIN F/\( iii OR YEAR.iLINc BEFI. Sri iiis, 'TE\NNE:SSEE VALLEY 817351SilI0, 1971-74' Whteatix egrass- Tn ticae rx irass- (clitxer Grazing season: c'loxver Ocet. 22 lme 9 170 begaii-c'lied IDaN s grazed lax's off grazing Stocking rate, oii g~razing Oct. 17 lime 4 1701 650 2.0 60 aniitls/acre A)G of steers, lb). 2.0) 1.10t 2.0)7 :)66 iuff grazing:, 2.00 (;raiotg gaiin acre, 11). 12:3 bile, off 1'eed /stecr xx gi'raing ill Its lot, lb) 1.38 CSM Corn 9 1:32 2,218 '.tcer Coirn silage D~aily fed ('SN! Cor (otti grazilig, ill xxhile otff (irslot. lb. . 2. :3.1 98 130 2,062 1.5 2.01 silage 32.6 tie 4-xear avx rafigs: hi isscx fllb I Iimatcd tfe ti, -Pastulres durniig t', values repoted'i s Marich 19T:3 caulsing datat for the 1972-7:3 grazing season to bc incomplete. Beef, pork, and fish are important sources of the world's protein supply. A MERICAN AGRICULTURE has been both praised and castigated during the last few years. The praise came from the ability of the U.S. farmer to quickly respond to changing market conditions. The castigation resulted from the failure of the U.S. to supply additional amounts of agricultural products to lesser developed nations. Whether either or both approbations are warranted depends upon the interpretation of the role of the individual farmer within the American system of agriculture. Analysis of production decisions faced by the American farmer reveals part of the difficulty. Consideration of differing types of production is difficult since production units vary. Using 1974 input and market prices, the comparative costs and returns for selected products were computed. An 80-sow hog unit was highly profitable with net return of 25% on cash costs. With all variable costs considered, a 30head cow-calf operation had negative net returns:. Two of the primary export crops, soybeans and wheat, had relatively low cash costs, with soybeans showing especially high returns in terms of cash costs. Peanuts, which are grown under acreage allotment, also had a favorable ratio. If capital investment, operating costs, and returns are motivating forces for producers, a shift of production into soybeans would be expected and in fact has occurred. Farmers thus perceive profit opportunities and make corresponding production adjustments by the results obtained through the market system. In a global view, planners are concerned about protein deficiencies among people of developing nations. Rather than considering the net production of edible product, their concerns are with the quantity of available protein. Meat and fish products are generally considered to contain a higher level of protein than crops. On a dry weight basis this assumption is true; however, only a limTABLE A COST COMPARISON of SELECTED AGRICULTURAL PROTEIN SOURCES K. W. CRAWFORD, V. L. MURPHY, and E. W. McCOY Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology ited quantity of dried meat is marketed. In the form normally purchased by consumers, both peanuts and soybeans contain a higher level of protein than do meat animals or fish, though the quality of animal and vegetable protein is not comparable. When considering the cost per pound of protein, soybeans, wheat, and peanuts can be produced at a much lower cost than hogs, cattle, or catfish. The combination of a high level of protein and little change in form from pro- tained in the feed. In some instances the ingredients in the feed could be used for direct human consumption. Circumventing certain changes in form, the product would be sold in the market at a lower cost, i.e., a comparable amount of protein for a reduced price. Cattle and some species of fish have the ability to convert plant materials into flesh containing high levels of protein. In these instances the animal is not com- peting with humans for the same food supplies. Given these considerations, why TABLE 2. AND do is~ ~ e ~ PROTEIN PRODUCTIONcs pershcss.adfarmers produce hogs, catfish, and fed ~ ~ beef? OPERATING COST PER POUND OF PROTEIN FOR SELECTED Neither the American consumer nor AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, consumers in developing nations purALABAMA, 1974 chase protein; they purchase food. Tastes, Net. Prot. Cash preferences, and many other intangible prod. Prot.prod.c.pr Product factors help determine the market price for a product. Catfish and trout, which Lb. Pct. Lb. Dol. both consume high energy diets, comHogs ---------- 11 19,581 183,000 1,634 Cow-calf .... 10,410 16 264 1,500 26 Catfish-------342 1,320 18 Peanuts--614 1,800 34 Soybeans---238 1,800 Wheat_-------- 13 1 Production of product available level. 4.11 3.09 2.96 0.58 0.11 0.31 at retail mand a market price substantially above buffalo fish, bream, or carp which feed low on the food chain. The farmer is guided by the amount of profit expected at a given market price. So, even with high production cost, catfish and trout have returns substantially above other alternative types of fish production. Total operating cost is a valid comparison for determining production alternatives only when farmers are not free to make their own market decisions. So long as producers have choices, a more valid measurement is net returns or profit. However, when decision time arrives for an individual farmer, other criteria, such as t-vpe of land available and his own preferences toward what type of farmino he enjoys, may have more bearing than either total costs or net returns. 11 1. NET RETURNS AND OPERATING COSTS OF SELECTED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, ALABAMA, 1974 Prodct Prodct nit nit Net ret. Ret. of cs cost Pct. Dol. 80,490 25 5,047 781 14 200 106 69 178 74 59 Cash cost duction to consumption makes soybeans an especially favorable production item. The relatively high protein cost position for hogs, cattle, and fish is partially due to the change in form from production to consumption. The catfish, for example, have been deheaded, skinned, and gutted and the fish in the market contain only 60% of the weight sold by the farmer. In addition both catfish and hogs consume a high energy ration. The amount of protein in the animal flesh represents conversion of the protein con- Dol. 8 Hogs ....... 0 sow 20.517 Cow-calf ..... 30 head -53 344 Catfish ...... 1 acre Peanuts ...... 1 acre 212 Soybeans .... 1 acre 123 Wheat ...... 1 acre 44 Relative (ilulges ill Prices Received by Fairmers and~~~ IbryErigs of Emiployees of Food MIarketing Firm MORRIS WHITE. Deportment of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology EVsENTS TIHAT OC CURRED in thle early 1970's affected pro- ducers, hiandlers, processors, anti consumers of faim foods in xxavs thiat wxill lie remembered for mnany~ years. Producers index 967 100 operated with less goxverment regulations and received less gov'ernment pa'ymentts than at any time since the 1930's. Thle price-stahilizing effects of high Commodity Credit Corporation loans and of large volumes of major commodities in storage wxere missing. Although theire wvas a slight upw55artd trend in the Index of Prices Reeis ed for all agiriciiltiiral commodities (1967 100), there were ito wvide veai -to"e-ar fliuctiuations, 1 et\\eni 1961 aini 197 1. Figure 1. Thei Iidex \\ as 18% htigheri in 197 1 than inl 1960. hut (liog [lie Iext :3 \ cars there \'5 s a rise of 72"(. awd labor Itilstt tl a iittttoit xxat i1(''iatiotis x Itii iltnio coittraicts, Iaoii I ciii iings of' entplos ces ol inlaiketiig firms in creased tx ci s 5ear antl at a lairl unliiiform ri ate. Betweenci 196(0 and 1971 hourlx r ates ii ci etle .51 '7, 1 ill the rise wxas oaily 27% iii the next :3 \ears. W\itl i iespect to 1967 le\ els. emplox ecs' houi I earnings \x\ere loss inl relation to the 'ittsinei Price Indcx ( :P1 ) thIirouighi 1967, whIile coiiiodit prices were ahox e the( CPI. After 1967, liourks earttilli Cs rose intre tl ai the CPI but prices receiv ed 1w farmers iiiN creased less thaii the (ATI until 1972. W\ages ( above miniioom xxage lex-el) paid to employees of mnarketingy firms are. iii the long run, most affected 1)" h c suppls of the dlcinand for sen. ices of citiplox ces. Chainges itt con somer deiiaiids for motre services comne about gratdually ox ert period of sears, and as a result abrupt u1ps aiid doswnis in emptloyees' hiootIs eat ings geiterally dlo not occurt Use of ax ci age data for the tT.S. smI(othe(s ox_,, 1i n rouS t small andi iinlis idiial fitictuatiotis. The iiuimber and magii tudle Of 17eIt oat i is it) ci aun10t ty p rices atre gre.i t cthtIan illii " 80 V Poultry B eggs (U S) 60Liest l3 & (rodUCT Hogs (Aia) Soybeans (Ala (U S 140 3 S 0 1- --- - - --- 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 Year 1970 1972 1974 houri Index es artniings of otarkct ing firm eimployees. Use of at ptrice it ex ietpresentt iiig prtices t ccixed 1tr ptr(odiucers in a pa it ito Iar state, or pmrites retceiv edI y piroducer s of ait inidIix iLltiai coinmodi t rexveal more tI ea ix tIile i tont ei aiit ina gilit ti(It of pice cli an ges that it tix it iial piroducers encoiun ter, I' gure Fi 2. Tlhe iiidex of prices i clixed b\ fairmers for all coittitohities iii tlte U.S. (1967 - 10t0) reached a peak of I184 iii 1974. whlile thte iiire\ of priices receivetd hv sox hean giowrsi inl Alabtaina (1967 10t)) reached a peak tof 282. The( thai ge ftor somet iitdis idoal growvers exceedledtl te 282 lest(I. TItthei ce of shiarp decreases tin pices is siinilat is titit de ritI itetl iii comtposite ir niat itntal prite idexes. ar~rioltS levels or rtes of hourly wages exist for marketing unitn emptloyeces. Iltoxs tx ci the basic rate paid to emnploys's perfor ing a specific jiob art' Iairlx uniiformn thttoughout brotad geiographlical ii (as. The greatest majority of wsage earnrtts expec't tti he emnplox et oin a 4(1-hour per wxeek hiasis. Whleie mci itime is a p rtthalblits' the amtitiit is nott I ighlx s . iial d atit rate of pay is specifietd. Eniplox'\ees alt' pidit on a xxtcekls\ hi-xx eckl -. or montl -asis. v h These comiditioits mntkc poisstblet a f airlx .stcad\tf itt t tan flos' fioi citl oyees petrlotinig tconmparalet 967 =IC,, 80170.1605040 130 120 Consumer price index/ Index of prices recel ed by to, mers - Hourly earnings of employees e of morketings firms. jobs. 110'10 90- 80 F 960 1962 1964 966 ear1968 1970 1972 1974 lttcome flosss to p ritii iters tof a grOiulturtal plrodu tcts are bh Naiale atin upretditt able. Fluotu a t ionts iii I arn torninoit tries ai e tlifflccilt to f oreca st. Tiota.l pi odiittion aind x ,ri a itittis iii tqiialitx arc major factotrs iii determining imtomle. andl IiithI arc 1 eson d theti cntrmol of agrictultural producceirs. Pmrice ittdtexes niae chtatnges iii prictis onlxy antI lIouriiv tt w5age iintexes mc'astm c onlx tchangtes in hotiurly rates oi' pav. Ncitlter of' the ititlexes reflect costs inciuiried, anti prite indCeS (10 110i iil titli' x ol on t' or ti~alitx' dtta. Thterefor e. t N ('it Iir intdex sh oold lit'wi rprett'd as I)ii ig ic piese itatis c be io1 telatis t gross 01 Titt itirtimes. Wthat is ilhiistiatetI ts thet tii taldlitx\ iii piice per1 niit of prodiuct thtat agricuilturali produucers eitcotttt' ttttipate t the telati-ex stabile Ittourlx cto earninigs of thotste x lio adtd xlixices to tlte picidoct ini tlte miatrketintg t'h at ri. Il L A~ Soil pH Affects Weed Growth, Too G. A. BUCHANAN, C S. HOVELAND, ond M. C. HARRIS Department of Agronomy and Soils Growth of morningglory (left) and redroot pigweed on Hartsells sandy loom sail at low (5.1), medium (5.4), and high (6.3) pH. L IIILI ATTEZNIiON hais beeii giveli to boss soil pl Iaffects wxeed growxth. Yet this can he an importanit factor iii sex eritx of wveed competition in crops. The relative iresponse of wveed and( crop) species to soil 1 hias aliniportanit effect onl tile initial competitive relatioiiship of the crop xvith the wveed popuilation. Soil pH also is a major factor ill determiiiing wher e wveeds wvill occur atid in regulating xxweed populations. Thel( influence of soil pll on wveed1 growvth was iiivestigated iii greeinhouse studies at Aubuin Un iiiversity Agricultural Expeiment Station. H artsells fiiie sandlv loam and Liicedale saiidx loam soils from long time (ci tility studies xwere used, adjusted so that all required mnieral cleiiients wvere at anl op~timum level. Six cool season and It) xxaun seasoni wxeed species wvere groxvn in pots of the txwo soils. Plant herbage wvas harvested and xveighed to obtain comparative dry mnatter yields onl loss pH and optimum pH soils. Worm Season Weeds to low soil pi tI0 o tis soil, ani d c01m1mon dan delijon and ilid i imustard wxere in termedciiate iii response. Oii Liieilale samlxoain. i dr 1 ii ierhage yijelds of aii nl b~luegrass, Caolinia ger anium. laildelioli. and bucktorn plani tamn were siniflar at 1 levels of 5.2 and 5.7, hut nmuchl less at pH 4.7. Cliickwxeedl and wxild mustard sutffer ed x ieldl re ductions wxhen soil pl w xas 5.2. Rx e xxas more tolerant to lows pH onl the Lucedale soil thian any other cool season cirop or wxeed species in the studsy The results 1-c orted shows soil PHJ to be anl impor tant 1 factor ill growxth of' wxeeds, just as it is for crop plants. Thus, soil acidity can be a significant factor in deteirminling eat ly competitiv e relatini ips hetss een crops and xweeds. 1"iiihdmore, it can exert ii fiieiiee onl ecological shifts in xveed popi lations. A better under standiing of xveed response to soil phl could provide vailuail e inifornmIation for uise in pl aninig lollg range wveedl In ai iagem eli) programns. BESPONSE OF1XWi i AND COP SEIES 1(O Soil, p11 Growvth coiire ptoci ottilllim piii that it \Vedll 1o1 crop 51)1(115 Lucedade sands loam pli 4.7 Pt. pH 5.2 Pct. 40 601 7t0 :35 58 60) 80 80 Hartsells finw sandys loam pHl 5.1 Pct. 20) 61 8 40) 70) 70 90) p11 5.4 Pct. Redroot pi ,eed asnd Florida heggaxx eed xvere particularly seiisitix e to loss soil pH. These summer weeds made only slight groxvth at pH levels of 5.2 or less, as showni by, data iii the table. Florida heggarxveed gress' less at pH 5.4 than at pl 15.7 or abov e, onl both soils. Large crabgrass aiid showvy crotalaria wvere the least seiisitive species studied, shoxviiig iio girowvth ireductioii at pHi as low as 4.7. Coffee senna growth wvas reduced less than 25% at this low pH. Sicklepod, crowfootgrass, prickly sida, jimsoinweed, and tall1 morningglory xwere intermediate in senlsitivity to acidity. Groxvth of corn, soybeans, arid cotton xxas reducedi only ait the lossest pH (4.7)1 on the Lueedale soil. Onl the I lartselis soil, howvever, only cotton shoxs ed girowth reduction at the lowvest pH. Croxvth of sorghum-sudangt ass xxas sharply reduced at loss soil pH on both soils, xxhile pearimiliet xvas quite tolerant of soil acidity. Cool Season Weeds Aniong winter xweeds listed in the table, annual biluegrass, Caiolina geransiumn, and buckhorni plantaini weire the most tolerant species to lowx soil pH onl Hartsells fine saindv loam so~il. C hickwveed xwas the least tolerant amng the wveedl groups WXarm season species Floridai hegarwe ed Crosvfootgrass Redroot pigxseedl Prickly sidia Jimsonwxeed Tall inmmingglory Coffee Selina Sickh pod Large crabgras.----Showy ('ritllaria -- ---Soybean Cotton Corn Pearimillet Sorgliur-sudaligriss Cool season species \Nrildl mustard t0 Anuiial lblul rasN s: Chick-'% c 20 10) Biiekliim Plantini Common dandelion 8 Carolinai geranium 3 Eye 88 \Vheat ----- 68 Crimson clover -----------31 20 Arrowleaf clover 78 88 801 79 88 88 97 68 54 801 80 88 82 9(0 98 81 66 85 84 37 21 70) 5 100 100 70) 18 i5 71 68 41 32 'Optimumn pH-5.7 for Lijediale and( 6.3 for Hartsells. ACOLLECTION of VERTEBRATE FOSSILS JAMES L. DOBIE, Department of Zooloqy-Enfomotogy Upper Cretoccous Deposit(1) A fossil egq ond scanning electron microscope close-up of the egg's surface, Dallas County, Alabama. Upper Cretaceous Deposit-65 million years old. (3) Side view of the 65 million years old. (2) A coprolite, Dallas County, Alabama. shell of a turtle, Agomphus olabamensis, Lowndles County, Alabama. Paleocene Deposit-63 million years old. (4) Lower, jaw bones of a dluckbilled hadrosaurine dinosaur, Montgomery County, Alabama. Upper Cretaceous Deposit-65 million years old. Upper, tooth of Upper Cretaceous Deposit-65 million years old. a dluckbilled dinosaur, Hale County, Alabama. oi( DUIM TH m35-Nxiiiox YL\R SPAxN Of the Upper C retaceouis gecological period, anl area of Alabaina ki Lowsn as the Black as Belt xx cov ered b\ it imi and shalloss sea. Soini o~f its inhlalitmmts, turtles, cmn eocliliaiis, mosasiii ine lizards, sbaiks, ray s and l)01i fix) ics, adapted as the enviroimemit chalcaittI otheris did not aid thelir iiiinbeis (Id l 1(. Dinosaurs and Birds also aret scales, feathers, andc skin . .. conidoIered fossil muit cmi, d. Paleon ti iii) g is the studs\ of Suchl ossils. Museum of Paleontology eating the tinoc \\]tenl the species liv ed it becitme extinct, and perand xhth laps x\\It.\, all basically 1)1oceed under the cenitral theme of r evealing the histnrx, of) xci tebrate life. Published Research 'Ilic \uburn Ui(nix emsitx Mhuseum of Paleonitology (AU NIP), at collection of ci tebrate fossils, xxas started iii 1967 and is housed onl the main campus. Most of the four thousand catalogued speciiins xwere collected in various counties of the Black Belt in Alabamra, although Dinosaurs and birds, not adapted for life inl the sea, lived on land or in oi ater lakes and streams. along fresh xx 'Ihex' also did not adapt, and they along with some of their vertebrate kinl slowxly dwvindled in number to extinction. That area wxhere dinosaurs roamed anid turtles swxamn, nowx traiist oi med lbx the inroads of eivilization, is it Black Belt grav eyaid of fossil tur ties, diinosaurs, lizards, and fish.... V ertebrate fossils include more than old boines and teeth. Eggs (Figoire 1), preserv ed footprints, coprolites (inmeralized feces, Figure 2), imprints of some specimens from other states are incluced. One Of the fossil tur ties cdonated a doorstop (Figx cls to the mnuseumn seive tire :3); another xwas used ats at mantel- piece decoration in at school house in Loxvides Coun ty, Alabama. The studies xxhlich are of imterest to xvertebrate paleontologists are extremelx xvaied btit most paleontologists are mnotivated by the common decsire to rexvcal the cx ohutiotiar x history of vertebrate life. That xwhich is clinc iii collectinig, describing, cdetermin in g the ecological setting occupiedi 1y the fossil species, indi- Published and current recsearch are onl ai new species of snapping turtle frm Florida, a nexx' faily oif lizards ( specimen found near \Vetumnpka in Elmoie County, Alabama), the first occurrence of a fossil egg from the Southeastern United States and the anatomxv of its shell (Figure 1), at new genuis and species of crocodilian from Dallas Count,,, Albarna, at taxonomic revision of a turtle gi1 01up that formerly lived from Nexx Mexico to Georgia (Figuire 3), a nexw marine snake and fish from Mississippi, and studies onl the dinosaur fauina of Alabatma (Figure 4). Per-sons interested in hiaxving specimens idlent ified, making cdon ations, or those it\a iii g in form atioi om ceri iii g the Incat tion iof sp)ecimens5 are inivitedl to contact the author. like milost otlher organismS, are susceptible to diseases caused by viruses. Such viruses are of interest for many reasons, but chiefly because of their potential for use in controlling insect pests. The effectiveness of viruses for control of several insects has been adequately demonstrated by numerous laboratory and field experiments, and extensive testing has shown that they are harmless to non-target organisms. However, more information on efficacy and safety will be required before these pathogens can be registered for use as insect controls. Many different types of viruses infect insects. They differ in size, shape, and chemical composition, as well as in symptoms and pathologies they cause in their host insects. The nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPV) are one type of insect virus that is being studied at Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station. Characteristically, virus particles INs(ets, STRUCTURE of all sides, and is about 3-3 micrometers inl diamreter (micrometer x 200-400 nanometer approximately (natometer - I 25,000 inch). Virions measure 20-50 When PIB are treated with alkali, the protein matrix is disrupted and the PIB become swollen and lose their angular shape, Figure 3. Eventually, PIB disintegrate and virions are released, Figure 4. Presumably, similar events occur in the gut of a caterpillar during the infection process. Several envelopes that were shed from the virions are also apparent in Figure 4. A virion without an envelope is known as a nucleocapsid, and several of these can be seen in Figure 4. With some NPV, more than one virion are enclosed within a comnmon envelope, Figure 5. Knowledge of viral morphology is important to a better understanding of these pathogens and the role or function of their components in the infection process. Such knowledge is also essential to determining identity and relatedness to other viruses; this must be established before the control potential of the insect viruses can be realized, both in effectivelod Ifo f-vfch INSECT VIRUS ROBERT T. GUDAUSKAS Department of Botany and Microbiology JAMES D. HARPER Department of Zoology-Entomology I 1,000 micrometer). (virions) of the NPV are enclosed within polyhedral protein crystals or inclusion bodies (PIB), Fig. 1. The virions are rod-shaped, contain DNA, and multiply in the host nucleus. /' Pb TE- * aT FIG. 3. Electron micrograph of polyhedral inclusion bodies in cross section after treatment with alkali; magnified approx. 3,500X. P\PV that infect pest insects of the looper colnplex, e.g., cabbage looper Vy Trichoplusia ti; soybean looper, Pseudo- )lusia inchudets; alfalfa looper, Autograp/ha californica, have been under investigation at Auburn for several years. FIG. 1. Diagram of a polyhedral inclusion body and detailed structure of an individual virion. V VP [V V V FIG. 2. Electron micrograph of polyhedral inclusion bodies in cross section showing protein matrix (P) and embedded virions (V); magnified approx. 5,000X. Although many different aspects of these viruses have been studied, recent emphasis has been on determining their morphological, biochemical, and serological relationships. The purpose of this report is to illustrate some of the morphological features of this group of viruses. The vinlses were mass-produced in the laboratory by infecting large numbers of looper larvae or caterpillars. Virus-containing PIB were harvested from dead caterpillars and purified by using a series of different types of high-speed centrifugations. Purified PIB were either sectioned for electron microscopy or treated with dilute alkali to release the virions prior to examination with the electroni microscope. Figures 2-5 are electron micrograph.s of preparations of NPV that infect loopers. A cross section of a PIB with enclosed virions is shown in Figure 2. A FIG. 4. Electron micrograph showing free virions (V) and envelopes (E); magnified approx. 25,000X. FIG. 5. Electron micrograph envelope; within a common approx. 22,000X. of virions magnified iliospliorus I-ertifization Aidis stand tstaoiislment on Poorly-Drained Coastal Plains Soils DAVE HYINK and MASON CARTER, Formerly, Forestry Department tt'IO\ CDE iC,55 it pill (; pto(Ittti\c l iert iiailiex growsthi. suipporit mlore treie flaitwoods ar~eas P1 aii tcititaiilI oties of lox\ lx\ilig pooi l drajitlet it ie soils tha ar in aeatiipit l aci atec, acid(ie, di1(1 lo\\ iii aXijlal c11 ph osphorus. Th ese sites, chiaracteized' b\ x (-2etation stich as ixx'SS(S Stlges. gall he ii . xxaxmirytle, lialtics press. and pitcher planits, can'sopth port e'xcelleint pile( grioxs if draiinage fet aldiil{I ilizer are p rov ided. lit I1970, the Atin-iii t nix ersitx Ag ii culturial Experimnent Station iiistalledgan e\1 )eriliieiit Onl the Ililix Soil series iii lBaldss in ( otiitx . Alabaina. Rains soil possessesx essen t ially all of' the previouisly tniniccii ulaiacteciis tics. The puripose of tii tlii ixxrimeniiit \\a.s to mneasurte the resh an d 1(o1)1olly pine seedsponse of ila N ) and piliosplei rois hulgs to iiitt ogeli (P) fer tilizaitioni and diainaae wci partialkl drai fed xas T[he site Cen -t b\x mmmxl of hire-ploxv ditchles it iiterx ,ls. 'The area xxas hand planited to lofilidix and slash pinle in time wxintei ofI 197 0-7 I at a spacing 6 X 8 ft. ( Fig. 1) . Fertilizer tireatiments appliedi at planting time xwere: (1I) ( ontrol, (2) 59 1 L. P pei acre, (3) 10 11t) P per acre, (4) . 5( 11. P plus 50 .511. N per acie, and (5) I0 1t1)I. per aecie at plating tinie, 1)It, P lie ('oaxtal 51)11). N lier atte ijplicdl at age 2. Th'le ici tili/,ci \\ias app~lied Lx liaitidl iitiailalitt iimgr. Tl'le source of P alonle x\\as tilexlipm'r phosphate (TSP) or ( .SP I the soot ci of 1P4 N xwas dirmmou onin phomspate ind the source of N alone xx\as S to lx ineasiinei its hax e been com- pI'tet'l l ngh foir gioxxiumg seasions. Noi xixa \iI\xetre pieetit 4 'ear s after planting. S pecies' dulleen ces iii souirxival per'cenitage ruin aliimed exsscoiiti ,ilix the samne as those x iiessed I xear followxing plaiiting; (68%, tn slashi and 86% foi loblolls'. It should he mentioned that the loblollx pine seedlingx xvere lar ger aiid appeaired to he iti 1better cot d it ion thai ile slasli pine seedlings xx,]teii thes, xxee plaimted. Folloxin g the 1971 groxxin g season, all treatmnts except the 50--IL. P per acre rate Liad tiree heighits sigiiificantlx taller thanu thme contr ol. III all siicceedimg Yeais, the fertilized plots stteadily outgrex the uinfert ilIizedf 1)1otsAll fert ilizer rates re. suiltetd ill sigimificamt groxwth lincreases ox t the coumtrol. hitl no one rate xwas Letter thaii atnothertt. Except for tle c oini- Height -ft 3- 12I 5 0 50P 50P+5OtN 100P JOOP-t5ON Fertilizer T'reatmentj FIG.' 2. Height growth of slash and lobloly Pines after different rates of fertilixation. triol plots, liiiglit iumeatis 1x tieatmemt xxemie t'oixittitlx (treater fi- loblolhx thaii for slash ( Fig. 2 ). Thu filr. sl ashihias is otitutiw lxoilolilyx ill the ablseuc otf, all\x i teu tilizer. B3axed ouil data oliser xed thlu s fair, it appears that dlrainamge b\ fiie-ploxii g inl t'omh1iiatiom xxiti phshou teirtiliz.atiom -aii in ake the ic renft b cce ietwveein a poorlx di aiiiedl pitcher plant site wxith Sill) matrgiinal piiie groxxth aiid a xvigorouns, xx stocked pine stand. cll AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION AUBURN UNIVERSITY AUBURN, ALABAMA 36830 R. Dennis Rouse, Director PUBLICATION-Highlights of Agricultural Research 12/75 Penalty for Private Use, $300 lGIC U f1975 3 18', POSTAGE PAID U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 1OM AGR 101 BULK RATE 144 N# V ) FIG. 1. A control plot surrounded by fertilized plots during the 5th growing season in 1975.