Fertilizer Availability and Changes in Tobacco Production

1. Fertilizer Availability and Changes in Tobacco Production

2. Fertilization

3. Historical Yield of Burley Tobacco in Kentucky

4. Nitrogen Fertilizer Issues • Economics • Production cost up • N fertilizer prices up • Price tied to natural gas • Transportation costs up • Availability • Homeland security issues • Nitrosamine concerns • Tobacco companies want less N applied • Quality concerns • Too little: • thin body, poor yield • Too much: • delayed maturity, fat stems

5. Price Per Unit of Nitrogen for Selected Fertilizer Materials

6. Alternative N Sources • Dolomitic – Ammonium Nitrate (27% N) • Ammonium nitrate mixed with lime • 78% ammonium nitrate • Theoretically similar to ammonium nitrate • Can impregnate some chemicals ? • Relatively high cost? • Availability (Bagged) • Limited practical experience • Initial acceptance • Poor

7. Alternative N Sources • Calcium Nitrate (15.5% N) • Sodium Nitrate (16% N) • Sodium-Potassium Nitrate (15% N) • Immediate uptake (good for sidedress) • Good for low pH soils • Erratic availability • High cost • Low analysis – high transport cost

8. Alternative N Sources • UAN 28%

9. Equivalent Acidity or Basicity of Fertilizers

10. Equivalent Acidity or Basicity of Fertilizers

11. Effects of Ammonium Nitrate Application on Soil pH Anhydrous Ammonia, Urea, UAN solutions : similar

12. Effect of Liming an Acid Soil Prior to Use of Urea and Sodium Nitrate Sources of Nitrogen Both N sources applied at 225 lb N/A pre-plant. Soil pH (water) measured at midseason of each year. Soil pH before liming was 5.4.

13. Effect of Liming an Acid Soil Prior to Use of Urea and Sodium Nitrate Sources of Nitrogen Both N sources applied at 225 lb N/A pre-plant.

15. Influence of Nitrogen Rate on Burley Yield UK Woodford Co. Farm N source = 28% UAN Broadcast units +Ammonium Nitrate Sidedressed units

16. Effect of Broadcast & Sidedress Nitrogen Source on Burley YieldFayette County – Robert Eads Farm Broadcast (150 units/ acre) Sidedress (100 Units/ acre)AN = Ammonium Nitrate, CN = Calcium Nitrate

17. Boron Deficiency

18. Boron Deficiency ?

19. Boron Fertility TestBernie Cave Farm 2007 BC = Broadcast, TW=Transplant Water , F = foliar Planted 6/16/07 Rated 7/26/07

20. Pesticide Concerns • Illegal pesticides • Could void contract • Indiscriminant use of labeled pesticides • Endosulfan (Golden Leaf) • Do not use at or after topping • MH • Others • Pounce • Prowl

21. Endosulfan Residues in Cured Burley:University of Tennessee 2005 * Harvested 20 days after last application ** Harvested 5 days after application

22. If I can’t use Endosulfan, what can I use?

23. Start right • Admire 2F • Admire Pro • 0.5 fl oz/1000 • Generics (Imidacloprid 2F) • Alias • Couraze • Nuprid • Widow • Platinum • 0.5 fl oz/1000 1 fl oz/ 1000

24. Budworms • Threshold • 5 or more per 50 plants • 3 weeks after trans planting until 1 week before harvest

25. Effects of Insecticide Treatment on Budworms

26. Hornworms • Threshold • 5 or more hornworms per 50 plants • 3 weeks after trans planting until harvest • Do not count if white cocoons.

28. Reduce or Eliminate MH?

29. Combination Sucker Control Recommendation • Reduce MH rate and add a local systemic • 1.5 gal MH + 0.5 gal Butralin, Flupro or Prime+ • Use Coarse nozzles • TG-5 / CE-5 or equivalent at 4-4.5 mph • TG-3 / CE-3 or equivalent at 2.5-3 mph

30. Average MH Residues by State1997-2004 Limited sample numbers on all but KY and TN 2000 - 2004 values are from warehouse sales only

31. Range of MH Residues in Kentucky for 1997 - 2004 Low < 41, Medium = 41-80, High = 81-120, Very High = 120 - 200, Extremely High >200 ppm

32. Regional Sucker Control Treatments*

33. Comparison of Sucker Control Treatments at Two Weeks after ApplicationUK Spindletop Farm (MH= Royal MH-30, F=Flupro, B=Butralin,) in (gal) O=Off-Shoot-T in (%), UTC=untreated check, fb=followed by at 7 days. *=Sprayer malfunctioned

34. The Effects of Sucker Treatment on Sucker Number per Plant UK Spindletop Farm (MH= Royal MH-30, F=Flupro, B=Butralin,) in (gal) O=Off-Shoot-T in (%), UTC=untreated checkfb=followed by at 7 days. *=Sprayer malfunctioned

35. The Effects of Sucker Treatment on Sucker Weight UK Spindletop Farm (MH= Royal MH-30, F=Flupro, B=Butralin,) in (gal) O=Off-Shoot-T in (%), UTC=untreated check,fb=followed by at 7 days. *=Sprayer malfunctioned

36. MH Free Trails Treatments

37. MH Free TrialsComparison of Sucker Control TreatmentsUK Coldstream Farm (MH= Royal MH-30, F=Flupro, B=Butralin,) in (gal) O=Off-Shoot-T in (%), UTC=untreated check(-) followed by at 5 days.

38. MH Free TrialsThe Effects of Sucker Treatment on Sucker Number per PlantUK Coldstream Farm (MH= Royal MH-30, F=Flupro, B=Butralin,) in (gal) UTC=untreated checkO=Off-Shoot-T in (%), (-) followed by at 5 days

39. MH Free TrialsThe Effects of Sucker Treatment on Sucker Weight UK Coldstream Farm (MH= Royal MH-30, F=Flupro, B=Butralin,) in (gal) O=Off-Shoot-T in (%), UTC=untreated check,(-) followed by at 5 days.

40. Effects of Nozzle Size on Sucker Control* *Treatments consisted of 4% Off-shoot T at elongated bud followed by a combination of Off-shoot T at 4 % plus Butralin at 1 gal /a.

41. Effects of Nozzle Size on Sucker Control All Nozzles were TG full cone nozzles

42. Effects of Nozzle Size on Sucker per Plant All Nozzles were TG full cone nozzles