Scientists get to the
ATLANTA, Ga. - U.S.
Department of Agriculture
researchers, in cooperation with
Auburn University, are identifying
root system characteristics that
I will improve tall fescue’s forage
yield and quality, according to C.
Bruce Williams.
Tall fescue is h cool season
perennial grass utilized for
pasture, hay, and erosion control
throughout much of the United
States. Forage yield and quality is
often limited by poor physical and
TES Pennsylvania’s #1 Agri-Business Bank
American Bank has been committed to helping
farmers since the turn of the century. Because of
our close association, we’re making a special limited
4-week offer of a fixed-rate Crop Builder Loan. This
loan can be used to finance the growing of field crops
for later sale or for use on the farm as feed.
The advantages of our Crop Builder Loan are
many. Once your loan has been approved, you’ll be
assured of getting the money you need, when you
need it And since the rate is fixed, you won’t have
chemical conditions. At tunes
during the year, the plant is unable
to supply grazing animals with
sufficient magnesium which
results in grass tetany.
Speaking at the American
Society of Agronomy meeting,
Williams said that “the root
system of tall fescue is an im
portant but often ignored portion of
the plant. Therefore, the isolation
of tall fescue plants which have
root systems enabling penetration
of compacted soils, efficient soil
Commitment to farmers. Jt’s the American Bank advantage.
American Bank and Tmst Co. of Pa. with offices in Berks, Chester, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery and Schuylkill Counties.
root of tall
water use, and high nutrient up
take is the first step toward more
efficient crop production. ’ ’
Williams, a research agronomist
with USDA’s Agricultural
Research Service at Auburn
University, Ala., says “the
methods used m the study will
enable plant breeders to more
efficiently select for planting tall
fescue with superior root
systems.”
Citing that root growth is dif
ficult to evaluate under normal
American
Bank
A FULL SERVICE BANK • MEMBER FOIC
fescue yield, quality
conditions, he described how
growth containers were designed
to permit detailed root ob
servations. Many plant charac
teristics were measured, such as
root diameter, root number, root
and shoot weights, and mineral
composition of the plants.
Williams reports that these and
other studies indicate that the
large-diameter root is beneficial in
increasing persistence and
drought tolerance, even though
large roots reduce mineral uptake.
to worry about the volatility of floating interest rates.
This will help you in determining the cost of
producing a crop and will reduce your risk in the
crop investment
The Crop Builder Loan is available to all farmers
who are eligible. You don’t presently have to be an
American Bank customer. 1b take advantage of this
offer, in Lancaster and Lebanon counties contact Bob
Zook at (717) 295-8577. In all other counties, contact
Gene Richard or Bill Hughes at (215) 375-5993.
Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, April 10,1912—A33
For optimum upturn of essential
minerals, he stressed that while
root system characteristics are
under genetic control, soil and
climatic environment appear to
greatly influence the expression of
some root traits.
Other members of the research
team were research associate Cliff
G. Cumer, ARS soil scientist
Charles B. Elkins, University of
Georgia agronomy professor Carl
S. Hoveland, and former Auburn
University agronomy associate
professor Eon L. Haaland.
An equal opportunity lender.