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Black Belt Branch Experiment Station CottonThe Mississippi State University Cotton Variety Trials are conducted each year at nine locations across the State. The Delta region of the trial is represented by five locations while the Hill region is represented by four locations. Each location has been chosen to represent a cross-section of the wide range in soil types and growing conditions encountered by Mississippi cotton producers. The Black Belt Station at Brooksville serves as one of four Hill locations (Raymond, Verona, Nesbit, Brooksville) for the Mississippi State University Cotton Variety Trials. The Mississippi Cotton Variety Trials have grown significantly in recent years in the number of varieties tested at each location. As a result, varieties at each location are divided into three groups for testing, early maturing, mid-maturing, and new varieties (varieties tested for the first time). Even as a non-irrigated Hill location, the Black Belt Experiment Station location has produced some of the highest lint yields observed in the Hill region and therefore continues to serve as a reliable site for discriminating among the many varieties evaluated each year. Results of the Mississippi Cotton Variety Trials are published each year and serve to provide an un-biased indicator of variety performance to aid producers in variety selection each growing season. Source: Dr. Ted P. Wallace
He has determined the effects of Roundup applications on fruit retention, fruiting position, and ultimately overall yield of Roundup Ready Cotton when applied at various application rates and cotton growth stages. His group continues to evaluate enhanced transgenic lines that further increase the level of tolerance. In related research, the rate of Roundup absorption on stem and leaf tissue on Roundup Ready Cotton was compared and found to be greater in stem tissue. This research has been the foundation for recommending Roundup application timing limitations on Roundup Ready Cotton. Herbicide drift continues to be an important issue in Mississippi. Dan’s students have determined the effect of off-target deposition of Roundup, Liberty, and Buctril on the growth and yield of non-transgenic cotton varieties. They determined the effect of off-target deposition of Roundup, Liberty, Staple, and Poast on the growth and yield of non-transgenic corn hybrids. These results are being further refined and developed to allow an economical and fast method of predicting the effects of off-target deposition on corn and cotton yield. This is becoming increasingly important as transgenic technologies are being adopted as a standard production practice, thereby resulting in increased usage of these herbicides. This increased usage ultimately results in off-target deposition situations that must be evaluated and often results in litigation. His research program continues to evaluate new herbicide, plant growth regulator, and harvest-aids as they become available from industry. His research program is one of very few being asked to evaluate KIH-485 for use in cotton. This herbicide may be the next major residual herbicide for use in Mississippi. His program is helping to generate the database on how to use this compound that will ultimately lead to its registration and label development. Source: Dr. Daniel B. Reynolds |
Dan and his colleagues are currently investigating the usage of new spatial technologies to further refine weed management by evaluating spectral patterns of different weed species to enable differentiation which will facilitate the development of geo-referenced distribution maps in fields. These maps will allow site-specific application of various herbicides with the usage of a point-injection sprayer interfaced with a GPS receiver, thus reducing herbicide inputs into the environment while optimizing weed control. These research efforts will form the foundation of future weed control programs utilizing enhanced spatial technologies.Last updated
19-Apr-2007
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