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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Ouachita Fertilizer’s method of introducing the new science of crop phenology

Translation: Understanding how weather impacts crop production practices

Delta Smart Systems

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Delta Smart Systems

• Utilizes technology to reach higher yields and lower grower’s 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

710

870

520 525 500

0

200

400

600

800

1000

000 a

cres

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

From 2002 to 2003, about 34% of all cotton acres were irrigated. (USDA)

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Cotton Yields: Lbs. Per Acre

629580

717

967867

0

200

400

600

800

1000

Lbs.

per

Acr

e

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

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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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0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

N S P K Mg Ca B Zn Mn Cu

Central

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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0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

N S P K Mg Ca B Zn Mn Cu

Central

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 lowThe 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

600

700

800

900

1000

80 lbs K 0# K

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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 800

850

900

950

1000

45 lbs. P 0 lbs. P

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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

600

700

800

900

1000

10 lbs. S 0 lbs S

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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

600

700

800

900

1000

2 lbs. Zinc 0 lbs Zinc

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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

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

Early Bloom: % Sample TestingLow or Deficient

Central

P 49%

K 50%

S 35%

Zn 52%

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Plant Tissue Summary

• Potash levels are a problem in the Central area.

Central

Late Bloom: % SamplesTesting Low or Deficient

K 52%

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Cotton Fertility 2005

N 80

P 45

K 80

S 10

B 1.5

Zn 2

Central (lbs. / acre)

Banded Application

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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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Need 25 heat units cumulative within five days after planting to plant cotton.

GDUs Accumulation D. Lee 2004

Planting Date 2004: Central

Date

GDUs

0

20

40

60

80

4/9/

2005

4/10

/200

5

4/11

/200

5

4/12

/200

5

4/13

/200

5

4/14

/200

5

4/15

/200

5

4/16

/200

5

4/17

/200

5

4/18

/200

5

4/19

/200

5

4/20

/200

5

GDU’s

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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