R. Scott Tubbs

Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) mitigation in seedling cotton using strip tillage and winter cover crops

BACKGROUND Thrips are the most consistent insect pests of seedling cotton in the southeastern United States, where symptoms can range from leaf curling to stand loss. In a 2 year study, thrips adults and immatures were sampled at 14, 21 and 28 days after planting on cotton planted with a thiamethoxam seed treatment in concert with crimson clover, wheat or rye winter cover crops and conventional or strip tillage to investigate potential differences in thrips infestations. RESULTS Densities of adult thrips, primarily Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), peaked on the first sampling date, whereas immature densities peaked on the second sampling date. Regardless of winter cover crop, plots that received strip tillage experienced significantly fewer thrips at each sampling interval. In addition, assessment of percentage ground cover 42 days after planting showed that there was more than twice as much ground cover in the strip-tilled plots compared with conventionally tilled plots. Correlation analyses showed that increased ground cover was inversely related to thrips densities that occurred on all three sampling dates in 2008 and the final sampling date in 2009. CONCLUSIONS Growers who utilize strip tillage and a winter cover crop can utilize seed treatments for mitigation of early-season thrips infestation.

Row Pattern and Seeding Rate Effects on Agronomic, Disease, and Economic Factors in Large-Seeded Runner Peanut

Recent peanut cultivar releases are trending to a larger seed size, but have great resistance to tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). Larger-seeded cultivars cost more to plant than smaller at an equivalent population. Reduced seeding rates could save growers on seed costs and impede the spread of southern stem rot, but can reduce plant stands which can lower yields and increase TSWV incidence. Therefore, the objectives of this experiment were to compare seven peanut cultivars (Georgia Green, Georgia-06G, AT 3085RO, Florida-07, Tifguard, AP-3, and Georgia-03L) in single and twin row patterns at three seeding rates (17, 20, and 23 seed/m) on a sandy loam soil at Plains, GA for disease incidence, agronomic, and economic performance. Measured variables included yield and grade, plant height and stand, TSWV and southern stem rot incidence, and adjusted net revenue in 2008 and 2009. Twin rows outperformed single rows whenever differences occurred. The only factors consistently affected by reducing seeding rate were plant height and stand, both decreased at the lowest seeding rate. There was a trend toward lower yields (approximately 6% reduction) at the 17 seed/m rate in twin row pattern, although net returns were not diminished compared to the higher seeding rates since lower seed costs offset yield reductions. The cultivars Georgia-06G and Florida-07 had the highest yield and adjusted net revenue among the seven cultivars in both years. Tifguard and Georgia Green had lowest overall yields and would not be preferred cultivars in sandy loam soils. This study demonstrates that twin rows have higher yield, plant stands, and net revenue, plus reduced TSWV incidence than single row pattern, and a reduction in seeding rate to 17 seed/m can be made without serious risk of lost revenue. However, benefits of reducing seeding rate in twin rows were not as pronounced as they were for single rows, and exhibited a greater potential for lower yield. A grower planting in single rows would likely have the most to gain from planting fewer seed, especially under heavy southern stem rot pressure, but planting in twin rows would still be a preferred option over single rows.

Herbicide Effect on Napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum) Control

Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effect of herbicides on napiergrass growth and control. In greenhouse experiments, hexazinone, glyphosate, and imazapic were applied POST, and carbon dioxide (CO2) assimilation was measured with the use of an open-flow gas-exchange system up to 22 d after treatment (DAT). Carbon dioxide assimilation was reduced to zero, indicating plant death, for hexazinone- and glyphosate-treated napiergrass by 2 and 12 DAT, respectively. Imazapic-treated napiergrass CO2 assimilation declined to a constant rate by 22 DAT, but never reached zero. Field studies at Chula and Ty Ty, Georgia, evaluated herbicides for napiergrass control. Herbicide treatments included autumn-only applications, autumn followed by spring applications, and spring-only applications. All autumn-applied treatments exhibited regrowth in the spring. Plants were not affected by cold winter temperatures. A spade tillage treatment was implemented in January 2010, but was not effective in controlling napiergrass. Spring treatments included split applications of autumn treatments and spring-only treatments of glyphosate, glyphosate plus sethoxydim, and imazapyr. Sequential autumn and spring treatments containing glyphosate at both locations failed to eradicate napiergrass. Imazapyr applied spring achieved 94% plant injury by 34 DAT, and indicated potential napiergrass control. Greenhouse results indicated multiple modes of action could be effective in reducing napiergrass growth, but were inconsistent with field results. Further field studies are needed to derive conclusive methods of napiergrass control. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; hexazinone; imazapic; imazapyr; sethoxydim; napiergrass, Pennisetum purpureum Schum