Lancaster farming. (Lancaster, Pa., etc.) 1955-current, February 07, 1981, Image 124
C36—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 7,1981 How poor fertilization opens way for NEWARK, Del Lodging can greatly reduce corn yields A principal cause of lodging is stalk rot. The problem is much more serious some years than others on Delmarva, but it can be minimized with good management, says University ot Delaware extension agronomist William H Mitchell Recent research suggests that stalk rot occurs when the corn plant is forced to draw heavily on stored food in the roots and stalk in order to fill kernels in developing ears This happens when some stress such as high temperature or drought prevents the plant from manufacturing enough car bohydrates to sustain other func tions and still reproduce The developing corn plant isn’t at all conservative in its growth habits, explains Mitchell Lake a spendthrift, it uses everything nature-and the farmer-provides. If conditions are ideal early in the growing season, the young seedling starts out robustly, putting out a lot ot lush vegetative growth it may not be able to sustain, should conditions change for the worse later on If may even start an extra ear When the weather gets hot, if there’s not enough water this large production system may run short of inputs By then the reproductive cycle has started and the plant will continue to try to support earfill by drawing on its reserves The root system will be the first to feel the dram Next, car bohydrates stored m the stalk will be drawn off Without these to sustain them, root and stalk cells can’t perform their normal func tions. They start to degenerate and die. In the process, feeder roots are lost and the stalk becomes hollow This degeneration seems to be the start of all visible stalk rot problems, says Mitchell Several things contribute to stalk rot problems One is excessive nitrogen This stimulates top growth at the expense of root growth and reduces carbohydrate reserves Too much watei is another way to encourage excessive top growth jsssßftn p w; assm, ( -B B °u TRY* I BOUMATScj y M.LK'NGsystems y MILKING! QUALITY CAN BE YOURS! WE HEAR STATEMENTS SUCH AS THESE: • I NEVER HAD PROBLEMS LIKE NOW • I GET MORE MILK THAN I EVER DID BUT COWS JUST DON'T MILK OUT CLEAN. • THIS MORNING WE HAD FOUR MORE QUARTERS WITH MASTITIS. • SLOW MILKING. • ANY MILKING SYSTEM WILL WORK, IT’S ALL IN THE OPERATOR. • LOPSIDED UDDERS. • HIGH LEUCOCYTE. • FLAKY OR WATERY MILK. • I LOST TWO 20,000 LB + COWS • HIGH BACTERIA. • I JUST CANT UNDERSTAND WHAT WENT WRONG. 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WOODS DRIVE, LITITZ, PA 17543 PHONE: 717-626-1151 Mervin Nissley - 717-872-4565 Our Service Trucks Are Radio Dispatched • Bulk Tanks • Therma»Stor at the expense of the corn plant’s root system Genetic makeup counts, too Add a variety without good disease resistance and you’ve created the perfect environment for stalk rot to occur Research also suggests that stalk rot and weak stalks are associated with potassium deficiency in the soil Where the potassium supply is good, you’re less likely to have a problem, says the agronomist This may be because potassium plays a key role in regulating the opening and closing pf leaf pores (stomatoesj to permit photosynthesis. When the plant doesn’t have enough of this nutrient, its production of carbohydrates may be restricted. Sometimes grower expectations are too high early in the season In shooting for big yields a farmer may stimulate too much early growth, unwittingly setting plants up for later stress and lodging Restrict nitrogen and increase the potassium a bit and the result should be a stronger standing corn There’s a delicate balance to maintain, when it comes to nitrogen Leave off too much and you could hurt yields. On the other hand, there’s a fairly dose correlation between yield and stalk strength The heavier the yield, the greater the drain on the system and the greater the chance for the development of stalk rot Part of the answer may be to avoid heavy applications of nitrogen at tune of planting Early vegetative stimulation may ac tually be harmful. It may be better to sidedress later on instead, says Mitchell. The corn plant needs adequate water to avoid moisture stress during the early stages of growth, he adds At the same time, farmers should hope they don’t get too much rainfall Heavy rainstorms early in the season can contribute to the later development of stalk rot Early planting is another way to reduce the chances for this disease Almost invariably eaily planting causes shorter, thicker stalk development It also permits the plant to complete pollination by early July, betoie heat stress begins to build up Growers ran also help reduce the incidence of lodging by selecting hybrids with good resistance to leaf diseases These are most likely to resist stalk rot No-till corn normally stands better than conventionally tilled coin in field comparisons Mitchell says he thinks thei e are two reasons tor this Under no tillage, there is often less available nitrogen because it is immobilized in organic matter, where it’s held LANCASTER - With the spring planting season just around the comer, it’s easy to understand why fanners are getting anxious to empty out the manure storage. This time-consuming job is necessary before a seedbed can be prepared, according to Ed Petrus of the Soil Conservation Service in Lancaster. “Too many farmers, however, are storing manure with today’s techniques, but spreading it by yesterday’s standards”, he said To get the most out of your manure, he offers the following tips- 1. Avoid excess agitation of liquid storages. The aeration can lead to nutrient loss. 2. Stay out of muddy fields with heavy equipment until the ground has dried. All things considered - F VAOj) HEREFORD VST FORASSISTAHCE IN LOCATING HEREFORD BULLS OB FEMALES No Cost No Obligation Contact your American Hereford Association Field Representative HL (CHIP) CARRIER Box F Bluff City TN 37618 (615)538 5354 AREA New Vork Penn sylvania NewEnghnd states Virgma North and South Carolina Georgia Florida Maryland and West Virginia in reserve tor later use. f’heies also abundant evidence that potassium accumulates in the upper toot zone under no-tillage and thus is moi e i eadily accessible to the plant Much research still needs to be done on the fertility needs ol the corn plant, but it may be beneficial to put on nitrogen and even potassium late ui the season-even after pollination - in ordei to maintain balance in the system "Balance all the way is the key to good standing corn, ’ says Mitchell. All kinds of stress can result in reduced carbohydrate reserves Since the corn plant doesn t have a Tips on stored 3. Avoid spreading on snow or frozen ground, when the runoff and pollution potential is high. 4. Favor flat fields over steep fields, and favor fields with erosion controls (terraces, stripcropping, etc.) over other fields 5 Spread immediately before plowing and planting for best utilization. 6. Avoid spreading immediately adjacent to streams, ponds, or wells. 7. Spread based on fertilizer needs from a soil test. 8. Observe maximum spreading limits. These are based on the type of manure, consistency of the manure, productivity of the soil, and the crop to be grown 9. Do not spread on grass-legume hay early m the season. The Former Automatic 4 Deck Cage System A system well devised and constructed for an uncomplicated and economical operation, modern and advanced, it will help you to gain your well deserved maximum return on your investment. More layers per square foot of building space, more than any other system on the market today, 10,000 layers per 285 cage row Lower maximum cage height, even lower than most 3 deck systems (6’B" max height, 4’6” max width) No special and costly floor or pit construction The 4 deck system can be installed in an existing building, without costly conversion or remodeling problems Double or even triple your current building capacity Automatic manure removal, giving an odor free environment, healthier animals, more pleasant and healthier working con ditions Higher bird concentration assures a comfortable, energy saving temperature during cold season Summer ventilation is easier to accomplish because of the ab sence of ammonia and other fumes stalk rot handling manure 10 Avoid continued heavy ap plications in the same field. One final tip,” adds Petrus. •‘Be neighborly. Let your neigh bors know when you’ll be spreading, so they can avoid outdoor activities, like barbecues or hanging out the laundry.” For further information or to check the maximum recom mended rate for your soils, contact the Soil Conservation Service at 717-299-1563 or stop in at the Farm and Home Cener, Room 4, 1383 Aracadia Road, Lancaster, PA. Energy Saving Design Only 3 fractional horsepower motors per row accomplish the automatic feeding, auto matic egg conveying and automatic manure removal Write for Full Information NAME | ADDRESS J CITY I STATE veiy good seif regulator but ap parently responds readily to whatever stimuli it gets, it’s up to the tarmer to do the regulating tor it, so that these stresses are avoided, or at least minimized. Start with a hybrid that has good disease tolerance. Avoid early overwatering where possible. Don’t overstimulate the plant with nitrogen Make sure it gets adequate potassium Plant early for maximum stalk diametei and a lower center of gravity And consider switching to no-till By adopting these practices you should greatly reduce the incidence ot stalk rot in your fields, Mitchell says THE FARMER AUTOMATIC OF AMERICA, INC. By Reynolds and Yellott Co Inc 12802 Gores Mill Rd Reisterstown, MD 21136 301-833 1840