181 – 189 of 737 Results
29-2020 Delta Agricultural Weather Annual Report
Weather data is used for research to indicate the amount of rainfall the crop receives throughout the growing season. This info is beneficial in making management decisions, such as when to schedule irrigations to supplement the lack of rainfall the crop might need in order to achieve maximum yields. Also, it can be helpful in justifying harvest dates that might be later than the norm, due to heavy rains late in the season that might have delayed harvest. Also, at a location that has both irrigated and non-irrigated tests, this rainfall data is important to show the crops yield potential when compared to one that was only rain-fed vs. rainfall in addition to supplemental irrigations.
28-2020 Southern Ag Evaluating New Production Inputs that will contribute to High Yield Soybeans
Much of the current research focuses on specific factors within a cropping system. Many growers have achieved higher than average yields through intensive management. However, many feel they have reached a “glass ceiling” with regards to yield and profit. While there are many acres that can still be improved; it is those that have hit a “glass ceiling” that ask questions regarding how do we break through this barrier. Through observation and discussion with growers, there are a myriad of factors that limit yield. Oftentimes, these factors are things that cannot be adjusted mid-season such as drainage. With that being said, growers in some high yield environments want to increase profitability through different mid-season management strategies.
25-2020 Musser Using Drones to Sample Insects in Soybeans
Scouting large soybean fields is a time-consuming task. When beans are drilled or when beans get tall and lodge, walking through a soybean field can become virtually impossible. As a result, large soybean fields seldom get sampled properly, with many decisions made based on conditions found on the portion of the field near the access point. Since many insects have a clumped distribution, the density near the access point may not accurately reflect the pest pressure in the entire field, resulting in less-than-optimal insect management.
22-2020 Cox Fertilization Practices for Sustaining Mississippi Soybean Production Final Report
Limited recent research exists in Mississippi regarding correlation of soil test indices to plant nutrient concentration and/or yield. Mississippi currently employs the Lancaster method to determine soil nutrient availability. Limited research investigating Lancaster extracted P and K correlation to soybean tissue concentration and yield suggests that differences may exist between Lancaster and Mehlich-3 extractable soil test P and K and soybean yield. Current data suggests that establishment of differing soil test critical levels among the two extraction procedures may be warranted, especially for P. Future research will maintain the current database and add new data points to allow for a more robust model to identify what soil test level soybean will respond positively to fertilization.
21-2020 Effect of Cover Cropping Systems on Dryland Soybean Plant-vigor, Growth, and Yield
Nearly 60% of all soybeans grown in Mississippi are produced in a dryland environment. Inconsistent yields are a common problem for dryland soybean production due to irregular rainfall events during the growing season. It has been suggested that the use of cover crops might help alleviate some of the issues during the growing season through improved water infiltration, soil moisture retention, nutrient availability, and enhanced soil organic matter. Currently less than 2% of cropland in Mississippi utilizes cover crops. Therefore, the goals of this project were to evaluate various cover crops in conjunction with different planting dates and nutrient sources to determine the optimal combination for integrating cover crops into a cropping system.
18-2020 Biochar seed coating as an approach for preventing root infection of soybean seedlings by Macrophomina phaseolina and other soil fungi
The proposed research is to determine if biochar, which is a type of charcoal produced as a soil amendment, can be used to protect germinating soybean seeds from root infection by fungi that use (-)-botryodiplodin or other charcoal-binding mycotoxins to facilitate root infection by killing meristematic tissue. Two approaches that can be envisaged for using biochar are (i) by addition to the soil around the seed at planting and (ii) by incorporating biochar into a bioplastic-based seed coatings. Of these approaches, biochar-containing seed coatings are considered the most practical approach. Successful application of biochar in seed coatings would be expected to significantly reduce seed losses for Mississippi soybean growers, thereby reducing costs and improving profitability.
15-2020 Shanmugam Determining Management-related Factors that Impact the Severity and Incidence of Soybean Taproot Decline
Soybean taproot decline (TRD), an important soilborne root disease, is shaping up to become one of the major diseases facing soybean producers in Mississippi, and beyond. TRD has been increasing in Mississippi since the first reports more than 12 years ago but yield losses and economic damages have yet to be accurately quantified. With an increased understanding of the relationships involved, there is an opportunity for increased field suppression due to more informed selection of management practices and scientific monitoring of the results. Our aim is to understand how management practices in Mississippi soybean production systems (e.g., early-planting, precision seed placement, irrigation systems, residue management) relate to the occurrence of TRD in order to verify the effects of altering management practices, and to determine the potential for enhancing the disease suppressive ability of these endemic soils. The aim is to broaden the range of cost-effective practices for TRD suppression that are amenable to incorporation into Mississippi soybean production systems.
12-2020 Tagert Managing Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC) Through a Cropping System Approach
There have been numerous studies in other states on different management strategies to address IDC and the factors that are causing symptomology and intensity of symptoms. One particular study indicated that using an oat companion crop increased soybean yields 5 - 18 bushels/acre. The theory behind this approach is to use the companion crop to reduce soil nitrate levels. It has also been noted that tractor wheel tracks in Mississippi and Minnesota fields have greener plants in the fields due to soil compaction. Soil compaction is considered a poor management system for farmers and reduces yields. However, tractor wheel compaction reduces soil nitrate levels in that area and increases subsequent nitrogen loss by denitrification. Usually in fields with low soil nitrate levels, plants are not as green. In the case of iron chlorosis, though, the opposite occurs because higher soil nitrate levels make iron chlorosis symptoms worse. Some researchers have indicated seeding rates (200,000 – 250,000 plants/acre) with wide row spacing in chlorosis-prone areas have increased yields. The theory is more plants per row foot will help utilize nitrate and reduce IDC issues. Variety selection has been the most common method for reducing losses from IDC, but with all of the information studied in the IDC subject area, no single researcher has implemented a multiple cropping system approach.
10-2020 Understanding in-field soil moisture variability and its effect on irrigation Final Report
Site-specific irrigation decisions require information about variations in soil moisture within the rooting depth actively being used by the crop. Producers have been using soil moisture sensors to make irrigation decisions, and it has been shown that soil moisture sensors can reduce water use without reducing yields. There are still unanswered questions on improving efficiency with soil moisture sensors based on density and location of sensors within a field. This three-year study used sensors to evaluate the spatiotemporal variability of soil moisture across an 18-ha production field in a corn/soybean rotation.