244 – 252 of 737 Results
28-2019 Crop rotations and risk management for Mississippi soybean producers
Crop rotations are economically significant on both the mean and variance of expected crop yields. This is because an effective crop rotation reduces year-to-year pest pressure, replenish soil nutrients, and increase plant vitality. Soybeans play a unique role in these rotation schemes by fixing atmospheric nitrogen into the soil. In the research, we study the role of crop rotations in farmers’ risk management decisions. Specifically, we aim to answer the question: as farmers face unknown future prices, unpredictable weather, and uncertain yields, how do crop rotations’ agronomic effects impact farmers’ optimal planting decisions? And beyond that: what is the economic value of optimizing crop rotations for a soybean farmer?
07-2019 Developing Future Agronomy Leaders through Day Camp and Individual Learning Projects Annual Report
Agronomy is a diverse field of study in plant and soil sciences which include external factors such as: entomology, genetics, physiology, biology and chemistry. Recent trends in undergraduate enrollment show many students prefer to specialize in a specific science rather than a generalist discipline like agronomy. As the number of applied-science agronomists decreases, we face a shortage of individuals with the knowledge to perform field diagnostics, soil nutrient management, develop overall farm management plans or to conduct research. As the number of professionally-trained field agronomist declines, having access to people that can answer day-to-day questions could become a serious issue. So this project objective is to develop an Agronomy Camp emphasizing hands-on training for young people.
58-2019 Management of Redbanded Stink Bug in MS Soybean Production System Annual Report
Focus of this project is to determine insecticidal efficacy of insecticides to control redbanded stink bugs in MS. All products and rates significantly reduced mixed populations of stink bugs compared to the untreated control at 5 and 8 DAT.
48-2019 Assessing Soybean Injury from Dicamba Applications Using Multispectral Imaging on a Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Final Report
This project developed a UAV digital and multispectral imaging system aiming at assessing non-DT soybean injury from dicamba sprayed at different growth stages and rates to evaluate the feasibility of this technique. This project also produced a protocol for how UAVs and multispectral imaging sensors can be used by soybean producers and consultants to effectively assess soybean injury from dicamba in fields for guideline data for them to assess and reduce the loss caused by the unwanted dicamba.
10-2020 Understanding in-field soil moisture variability and its effect on irrigation
There has been considerable research performed on using different methods and technologies to measure soil moisture, but much of this work has been done to estimate soil moisture in the near surface soil layer. It is important to consider soil moisture in the active rooting zone when making irrigation decisions, and granular matrix soil moisture sensors have been shown to conserve water and money while maintaining soybean yields because they can be used to schedule irrigation events based on crop water needs. However, questions still remain on the proper placement of sensors within a field and the density of sensors needed for making irrigation decisions. This project evaluates the spatio-temporal variability of rooting zone soil moisture over an approximate 18-hectare field using Watermark granular matrix soil moisture sensors placed at 12-, 24-, and 30-inch depths on a 55 x 55 m grid, resulting in 44 sampling points.
20-2019 Weed Management Programs for Mississippi Soybean Production Annual Report
Evaluate new and/or currently registered herbicides and herbicide-resistant technologies for positioning into Mississippi weed management program is being evaluated and refine soybean production practices by (a) characterizing the agronomic benefits of combining the Roundup Ready 2 Xtend System with narrow row spacing on a raised, wide bed in irrigated soybean, and (b) defining herbicide programs that optimize GR Palmer amaranth control when Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean are grown in a raised, wide bed system. Project will strengthen suggestions for control of grass weed species by (a) identifying reasons for poor grass control in current soybean herbicide programs, and (b) designing grass control strategies that fit into current herbicide programs in Mississippi soybean.
22-2019 Development of Fertilization Practices for Sustaining Mississippi Soybean Production Annual Report
Currently very little information exists on crop response to soil test based sulfur recommendations. Mississippi State University currently employs a differing soil test S index than most private and public laboratories in the Mid-south region of the U.S. Therefore correlation and calibration attempts for sulfur are required, and research will take a similar path as with recent and continuing work with P and K.
12-2019 Cropping Systems and Variety Effect on Iron Deficiency Chlorosis Annual Report
Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC) is a problem for producers worldwide. In 2012, IDC was estimated to have cost U.S. farmers over $260 million in revenue losses (Peiffer et al., 2012). Chlorosis is a condition caused when a plant does not acquire the required nutrients to synthesize chlorophyll thus causing the leaves of the plant to appear yellow instead of green. A combination of several factors may cause chlorosis including a mineral deficiency in the soil or a soil pH that inhibits the roots from absorbing minerals. For instance, soils with a high pH (>7.0) prevents iron from becoming water-soluble thus preventing iron from being absorbed by the roots (Koenig & Kuhns, 2010). While many factors, such as soil compaction or poor drainage, can indirectly cause plants to become iron deficient, the plant’s inability to absorb the essential nutrients needed to produce chlorophyll and carry out photosynthesis is the direct cause (Kuhns & Koenig, n.d.). This study will look at how these in-direct causes can be alleviated through the use of cropping systems. While tolerant varieties have been proven to increase yield, treatments proven to decrease the severity of IDC combined with tolerant varieties may actually produce even greater yields (Kaiser & Bloom, 2018). The purpose of this study is to determine the effects that cropping systems and soybean variety has on IDC symptoms.
08-2019 Using weeds as a resource to develop herbivore-resistant soybean final report
The primary beneficiaries of the project will be all soybean growers in Mississippi, who represent over 2.3 million acres across the state. The estimated average yield for soybean in Mississippi is about 46 bushels per acre, and the soybean production in 2016 is estimated at 112 million bushels or $900 million in production value. Considering up to 26% and 41% yield reduction caused by deer and insect herbivory, respectively, the estimated economic loss could be $234 and $369 million annually in Mississippi. Developing a low cost sprayable is the first step in solving this problem. A second step is breeding soybean plants to reduce herbivory innately. Both of these approaches will be environmentally friendly and organic because they alleviate the need for pesticides. Indirect benefits: The field testing confirmed candidate soybean accessions having anti-herbivore potential. The HPLC analysis identified the concentration of anti-herbivory compound responsible for the anti-herbivore property. Also, environmental sustainability of agriculture will increase dramatically with reductions in the need for pesticides. Direct benefits: Soybean with significant anti-herbivore property will prevent yield losses incurred due to herbivores especially deer and insects.