BELTSVILLE, Md. - A
dose of gram alcohol has
proven to be a promising
potion in USDA attempts to
force dormant weed seeds to
germinate research that
might some day drastically
reduce the crop weed
problem.
Using ethanol, a USDA
weed scientist has forced
several annual weedy
grasses and a few broadleaf
weeds to germinate before
their time. Although ethanol
has not been tested m field
conditions, it has stimulated
a wider range of weed seeds
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A shot of alcohol awakens dormant seed
than most other chemicals
tested in the laboratory or
the field, says R. B.
Taylorson of USDA’s
Science and Education
Administration.
The earth’s reservoir of
dormant seeds is the
mainstay of the weed
problems that plague far
mers year after year.
“If most of these seeds
could be forced t 5 germinate
at one time, they could be
killed with herbicides before
a crop was planted. And
weed problems would be
under control for many
we can resurface
your...
JN PURE WHITE
OR ANY COLOR
years to come,” says
Taylorson.
Some weed seeds can
remain dormant in soil for as
long as 100 years. Cultivated
land usually contains about
10 million weed seeds per
acre in the top six inches of
soil. Some land may contain
100 million or more seeds.
Taylorson has had most
success (100 percent ger
mination) in forcing fall
pamcum-one of the prin
cipal weeds of com and
soybean acreage in the
Northeast and Midwest.,
Witchgrass, crabgrass,
and bamyardgrass seeds
responded at better than 50
percent germination, a rate
Taylorson sees as the cutoff
point for any seed
eradication program to be
cost effective.
Fall panicum and wit
chgrass germinated m
complete darkness, but
Red Lion FFA holds awards
BY PATRICIA GREEK
Staff Correspondent
RED LION The annual
Parent-Member Banquet of
the Red Lion FFA Chapter
was held recently at the Red
Lion Area Senior High
School.
An Honorary Chapter
Farmer Degree was
presented to K. Loren Mc-
Cleary. McCleary was
awarded this honor Toi his
support of the FFA
Program. He has done much
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crabgrass and bar
nyardgrass needed red
irradiation to induce ger
mination. Wild oat and
johnsongrass have been
impervious to ethanol and
several other anesthetics
Taylorson tested.
So far, broadleaf ger
mination has been under 50
percent.
Getting seeds to germinate
in the absence of tight is
most important to any future
weed-seed eradication
program, says Taylorson.
Many weed seeds require
exposure to the red band of
the spectrum which triggers
a chemical called
phytochrome to initiate the
growth process. Those that
do germinate each year are
exposed to sunlight through
cracks in the soil or are
brought to the surface
during cultivation. But the
vast majority of weed seeds
& *
to advance agriculture and
the FFA in the community.
The coveted Star
Greenhand Award went this
year to Annette Walter,
Airville. Annette maintains
good grades in school. She
has also participated in
many FFA Livestock Shows
and Judging Contests.
Following right along, the
Chapter Star Farmer
Award, presented to the
Outstanding Senior went to
Todd Grove. Grove carries
$2,450.00
1.250.00
1.250.00
950.00
875.00
$1,800.00
950 00
1,050 00
1150 00
PARTS and SERVICE
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 12,1980—87
rest m the darkness of the
soil.
Taylorson attributes his
good results with fall
pamcum to “hitting on the
right set of conditions at the
start.” He expects that
further experimentation will
produce similar results m
other grasses and broadleaf
weeds.
The trick, he says, is to
apply the right chemical m
the correct dosage at the
right time and temperature.
Fall panicum probably
responded best when in
cubated in the laboratory at
95° because it is a naturally
late germinating grass,
explained Taylorson.
There are several
technical problems to be
overcome before ethanol or
other anesthetics could be
tested in the field, he said. A
method for keeping these
highly volatile chemicals m
projects of Swine Breeding
and Finishing, Field Corn
and Soybeans. He is
currently serving as the
Chapter Chaplain and has
participated in many county
and state contests. Upon
graduation. Grove plans to
return to the home farm and
expand his livestock and
cnps projects.
Abbe Johnson, Airville,
was this year’s recipient of
the DeKalb Award. Selection
for this award is based on
Scholarship, Leadership,
and Farming Program.
Abbe is an honor roll student
and currently President of
the FFA Chapter. She has
participated in both county
and state Dairy Contests.
Her farming program in
cludes work experience as a
DHIA Field Representative
the soil for at least four
hours would have to be
developed.
And the three percent
solution of ethanol that was
workable in the lab tran
slates to a costly 120 to 160
gallons of ethanol per acre.
Taylorson noticed that
anesthetics stimulated seeds
to germinate while studying
how they affect the
properties of seed mem
branes. Exactly how
anesthetics affect mem
branes is still a question, but
the fact that they do is
probably what triggers
germination, he said.
He noted that several
USDA and state agricultural
scientists are exploring
other germination
stimulants for practical
weed-seed eradication
methods.
banquet
and her own dairy cows.
Abbe has also received
recognition for her project
programs on both the county
and state level.
The Michael Spangler
Memorial Award is given
each year to the Outstanding
Sophomore in memory of
Michael Spangler who was
active in FFA, school ac
tivities, and had a high
scholastic average. This
year’s winner was Paul
Gamer. He is an Honor Roll
student and has been very
active in FFA. Gamer also is
a member of the school’s
Marching and Symphonic
Bands.
The Chapter Quiz Contest
winner was Aaron Growl,
Aimlle. This contest is
based on the participant’s
knowledge of all aspects of
theFFA.
Foundation Award Win
ners were: ag sales and
service, Francine Lewis; ag
mechanics, John Schott;
beef production, Harry
Sawmiller; crop production,
David Warner; dairy
production, Barb Kilgore;
farm and home elec
trification, Tom Craig; and
home improvement, Glen
Daugherty.
Also, horse proficiency,
Chris Rechard; fruit or
vegetable production,
Melvin Marks; placement in
production, Robert Dehoff;
poultry production, Mark
Ebaugh; public speaking,
Beth Holtzmger; soil and
water management, Victor
Spangler; and swine
production, Jeff Grove.
Lancaster 4-H
Beef club meets
The Lancaster County 4-H
Beef Club held their April
meeting in the basement of
the Farm and Home Center.
Guest speaker for the
evening was Carroll Howes.
His topic was 4-H work and
its rewards.
Special talent for the
evening was Yvonne
Eshelman, who played the
piano.
After the meeting, ground
beef from the banquet in
February, was auctioned.
The next meeting will be
held Wednesday, May 7.
Reported by Michelle Dean.