UT’s Soybean Scout Schools will be held in July (see details below). These field-side programs cover the basics of soybean growth, scouting, pest identification, and general management. Pesticide recertification and CCA CEU points will be available. Scout Schools are offered free of charge with sponsorship from the Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board. Registration is not required. Participants will receive a scouting notebook and a sweep net while supplies last.
UT’s Soybean Scout Schools will be held in June and July (see details below). These field-side programs cover the basics of soybean growth, scouting, pest identification, and general management. Pesticide recertification and CCA CEU points will be available. Scout Schools are offered free of charge with sponsorship from the Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board. Registration is not required. Participants will receive a scouting notebook and a sweep net while supplies last.
West TN – Lake County, June 24th, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. This school will be held at 300 Headden Drive Ridgely, TN 38080. Signs will be up to direct you to the field. Contact Charlie Jo Archie for more information. 731-592-9899, chasarch@utk.edu. Please RSVP by June 21st.
West TN – McNairy County, July 15th, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. This school will be held in McNairy County (address forthcoming). Signs will be up to direct you to the field. Contact Jon Williams for more information. 731-645-3598, johdwill@utk.edu.
Middle TN – Cannon County, July 16th, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. This school will be held in Cannon County (address forthcoming). Signs will be up to direct you to the field. Contact Jared Franklin for more information. 615-563-2554, jfrank57@utk.edu.
The UT Cotton Scout School is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20th, at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center (605 Airways Blvd, Jackson). There is no fee, and preregistration is not required. Registration begins at 8:00 AM with the program starting at 8:30. Pesticide points in categories 1, 4, 10 and 12 will be offered and a BBQ lunch will be provided. Content will include classroom and hands-on training with an optional go-to-the-field session after lunch. Topics covered will include cotton development and identification and symptoms of insect pests, plant diseases, and weeds. Contact Sebe Brown (318)-498-1283, sbrow175@utk.edu with questions.
In-season tissue testing is a valuable tool for monitoring plant nutrition, identifying hidden nutrient deficiency, and making timely corrective in-season action if possible. While foliar application may not always fully resolve deficiencies, the information gained from tissue analysis can be used to make adjustments for subsequent growing seasons.
How to Collect Tissue Samples
Nutrient concentration in plants varies depending on the growth stage and type of tissue collected at sampling, which ultimately affect the interpretation of tissue analysis. Instructions for taking tissue samples are shown below
The UT Cotton Scout School is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21st, at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center (605 Airways Blvd, Jackson). There is no fee, and preregistration is not required. Registration begins at 8:00 AM with the program starting at 8:30. Pesticide points in categories 1, 4, 10 and 12 will be offered and a BBQ lunch will be provided. Content will include classroom and hands-on training with an optional go-to-the-field session after lunch. Topics covered will include cotton development and identification and symptoms of insect pests, plant diseases, and weeds.
The UT Cotton Scout School is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21st, at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center (605 Airways Blvd, Jackson). There is no fee, and preregistration is not required. Registration begins at 8:00 AM with the program starting at 8:30. Pesticide points in categories 1, 4, 10 and 12 will be offered and a BBQ lunch will be provided. Content will include classroom and hands-on training with an optional go-to-the-field session after lunch. Topics covered will include cotton development and identification and symptoms of insect pests, plant diseases, and weeds.
Most of the soil nitrogen (N) is present in organic form, especially in the top 6 inches (75 – 95%), which is not readily available for plant uptake. Only about 0.1 – 0.3% is in inorganic or bioavailable forms such as nitrate and ammonium that plants can utilize. So, organic soil N is converted to inorganic forms for plants use, a process referred to as mineralization. The fraction of organic soil N that can be converted to inorganic form is referred to as potentially mineralizable N. Several factors including soil, previous crop, weather, and nitrogen management determine the extent of N mineralized. Nitrogen rate trials (>30) conducted over the past five years in West and Central TN suggested that mineralized soil N can contribute more than 20% of the total crop N requirements. Current N fertilizer recommendation for corn in Tennessee is based on realistic yield goals, which does not account for potentially mineralizable N that is available for the plant. Continue reading
Nitrogen management in most row crops can be a significant proportion of the overall production cost and can impact the bottom line. Keeping tabs on factors that can reduce the efficiency of N applications and deploying appropriate management strategies is one of the several ways to ensure a profitable production in this season. Nitrogen loss is one of the several factors that can reduce N application efficiency. The most common loss from broadcast or dribbled, unincorporated urea-containing fertilizers is ammonia volatilization losses, especially in no-till production systems. Ammonia volatilization occurs when ammonium ion from the breakdown of urea or fertilizer is subsequently converted to ammonia gas, which escapes to the atmosphere. The striking thing about ammonia volatilization losses is that nearly 90% of the total losses occurs within 3-5 days after fertilizer application. The potential and extent of ammonia loss is dictated by three key factors including soil properties, fertilizer management practices, and environmental conditions. This article focuses on how soil pH, clay content, soil organic matter, and soil moisture levels can influence ammonia loss from urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) applied onto the surface without incorporation.