| Week 2: Phosphorus |
| In the second installment in our series on nutrient deficiencies in corn and soybean, this week we take quick look at phosphorus: symptomology, sources, and common causes. |
Excessive rainfall over the weekend (5/12 and 5/13) in the North Western river counties has resulted in several calls this week concerning flooding and standing water in corn and to a lesser extent in soybean. Crop response will depend on the length of time the crop remains submerged and varies between corn and soybean. With rain still in the forecast for the next few days, here are a few agronomic considerations to be aware of. Continue reading
This is the first of several installments dealing with commonly observed nutrient deficiencies in corn and soybean. Each week, a new macro or micro nutrient will be posted and discussed. The main objective of this series will be to discuss for each nutrient: (1) visual symptomology of deficiency, (2) plant and leaf tissue deficiency levels, (3) common causes of deficiency, and (4) in-season corrective measures. Continue reading
In season plant tissue testing helps producers monitor plant nutrition and can be useful in diagnosing nutrient deficiency. Detecting deficiencies early can allow the corrective or preventive action that will minimize yield effects from deficiency during the growing season. Nutrient concentrations vary greatly with plant growth stages and the part of the plant that is sampled so specific sampling guidelines and interpretation have been instituted to prevent false diagnosis. Continue reading
We are quickly approaching the period of time in which we typically apply PGRs. Unfortunately, May was not kind and June has been dry. Many are struggling with figuring out when to start PGR applications and how aggressive we should be with that first application. In this blog, I link to our most recent Cotton Specialists’ Corner podcast on this very issue. This episode highlights several things to keep in mind before we run a stiff rate of PGR to an already stressed plant and potentially hurt yields.
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.
West TN – Madison County, July 11th, 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM. This school will be at the West TN Research and Education Center, 605 Airways Blvd. Jackson TN, 38301. Signs will be up at the station to direct you to the field.
West TN – Henry County, July 12th, 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM. This school will be at Norwood Farms, 645 Norwood Rd, Mansfield, TN.
Middle TN – Lincoln County, July 13th, 9:30 AM – Noon. This school will be at H&R Agri-Power, 11 Highland Rim Road, Fayetteville, TN 37334. Lunch will be provided courtesy of H&R Agri-Power. A head count is required for the meal, please contact Bruce Steelman of the UT Lincoln County Extension Office at (office) 931-433-1582 or (cell) 615-542-1364 if you plan to attend.
Large rainfall events and cool weather in late May strained Tennessee’s cotton crop. In some areas, individuals are considering replanting cotton that failed to emerge or cotton that appears to be just sitting. In other areas, reports of damaged or desiccated cotyledons have been reported and healthy, large cotyledons are hard to find most anywhere. In this blog, I cover a few rules of thumb to consider when determining whether or not to keep the stand and give a few words of advice to those that are considering May 30-something cotton. Continue reading
The UT Cotton Scout School is scheduled for the last Friday of the month, May 27th, 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. 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.