Cotton 2005

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Cotton 2005
Ouachita Fertilizer
Central
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Ouachita Commitment to you

• Increase yields
• Lower Costs / Unit Produced
• Help solve specific production problems that
  limit profitability
• Value Offering
• Consistency and Reliability
• Cost effectiveness
• Leveraged Investment

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Delta Smart Systems

• What is DSS?
• A precise data-gathering system collected to
  improve grower profitability
• Records production practices used on the farm
• Uses on-board computers to capture yield data
• Uses USDA grading standards to measure impact on
  quality
• Utilizes a large data base Community to analyze
  data
• Confidential

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Delta Smart Systems

• What is DSS?
• More than just a database
• Ties together all production data with local
  weather station data
• Ties together all production data with field
  observations and samples

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Delta Smart Systems

• Ouachita Fertilizers method of introducing the
  new science of crop phenology
• Translation Understanding how weather impacts
  crop production practices

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Delta Smart Systems

• Utilizes technology to reach higher yields and
  lower growers cost per unit
• Increases crop uniformity, the key to higher
  yields
• Helps predict Quality grades for targeted markets
• Helps avoid repeated mistakes continuous
  improvement

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Cotton Acres in Louisiana
From 2002 to 2003, about 34 of all cotton acres
were irrigated. (USDA)
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Cotton Yields Lbs. Per Acre
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Regional Analysis

• Split DSS data into three regions
• To customize recommendations
• To provide local solutions
• Identify and remove limiting factors to yield and
  quality

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DSS in 2004

• 15,000 acres in 2004
• 50 plant tissue samples
• 250 field observations
• Two satellite weather stations

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Plant Analysis

• Tool for in-season use to determine and manage
  plant nutrient levels and ratios
• Some elements can be corrected in-season with
  Foliar Applications

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Value Offering

• Enables growers to identify nutrients that limit
  yields or quality improve plant health
• Allows deficiencies or imbalances to be corrected
  in-season to increase profits.
• Helps avoid the application of excessive rates
  and unnecessary nutrient applications are
  avoided.

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Disease Protection

• Balanced nutrients have proven to reduce disease
  pressure in cotton
• Verticillium
• Pythium, fusarium, root rot and nematodes

Management of Diseases with Macro- and
Microelements, APS Press, 1993
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Early Bloom Plant Tissue Average
Cotton Plant Analysis 2004
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Early Bloom Plant Tissue

• Central 23 samples
• 49 low in P
• 50 low or deficient in K
• 52 low or deficient in Zn
• 35 low in sulfur

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Late Bloom Plant Tissue
Cotton Plant Analysis 2004
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Late Bloom Plant Tissue

• Central 29 samples
• 52 low or deficient in K
• 55 had K/Mn ratios out of Balance this means
  the K levels are too low
• The expected ratio is 300 ppmK to 1ppm Mn.
• Our average was 156 ppm K to 1ppm Mn.

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DSS in 2004 Central

• Plant tissue samples showed that 50 or more of
  the samples tested low in K.
• In our Community 80 lbs/A of K improved cotton
  yields by 100 lbs/A in 2004.
• An investment of 20.00 in Potassium returned
  50.00

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DSS in 2004 Central

• Other Results from our Community
• Phosphate 45 lbs./ A yields 120lbs. more cotton
  than 0 lbs.
• An investment of 15.00 in Phosphate returned
  60.00 in income

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DSS in 2004 Central

• Sulfur in our Community
• 10 lbs. /A of sulfur increased cotton weight by
  188lbs./acre.
• An investment of 6.00 in Sulfur returned 90.00

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Sulfur on Cotton

• Required on sandy soils or soils with low organic
  matter
• Sulfur deficiencies look much like nitrogen
  deficiencies, pale-green leaves on the upper part
  of the plant.
• Sulfur deficiency appears on new growth

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DSS in 2004 Central

• Zinc The single largest increase in yield with
  one management change was the 90 lb. increase
  with 2 lbs. of zinc per acre.
• An investment of 1.30 in Zinc returned 45.00

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Zinc Problems in Cotton

• Laser leveling, high copper, iron and manganese
  concentrations
• Highly alkaline soils
• Low VAM levels
• Cool wet periods which affect root movement

VAM-Vascular Microorganisms
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Plant Tissue Summary
Early Bloom Sample Testing Low or Deficient

• Explains good responses to Zn, K, S and P in
  Central.

Central
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Plant Tissue Summary
Late Bloom Samples Testing Low or Deficient

• Potash levels are a problem in the Central area.

Central
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Cotton Fertility 2005
Banded Application
Central
(lbs. / acre)
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Results from DSS Central

• Varieties top three varieties
• Paymaster 1218 BGRR
• Sure Grow 215BGRR
• DP 449 BGRR
• IST
• Gaucho and Cruiser were equal

Other Varieties that did well in other Regions of
the State were DPL 5415 RR DPL 555
BGRR Stoneville 55999 BGRR
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Planting Date 2004 Central

• Plant when weather accumulates 25 GDU the five
  days after planting. (forecasts)

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Planting Date 2004 Central
Need 25 heat units cumulative within five days
after planting to plant cotton.
GDUs Accumulation D. Lee 2004
GDUs
GDUs
Date
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Results from DSS Central

• Population
• 40,000 planted seeds per acre gave the highest
  yields in this Region.
• For all of Louisiana 45,000 planted seed gave the
  highest yield.

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DSS Summary

• 15,000 acres in 2004
• 60 plant tissue samples
• 250 field observations
• Two satellite weather stations
• DSS split LA cotton into three distinct areas to
  better understand profitable cotton production

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DSS Summary

• Cotton seeding rates performed best at 40,000
  seeds per acre in 2004.
• Using weather stations to forecast 25 GDU
  accumulations the first five days after planting
  is an effective tool to use as a planting guide.
• We have weather stations running now and can have
  the information sent to you.

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Cotton Schedule of Events