Cotton Plant Growth Regulators and Harvest

AidesAides

Sandy StewartAgriThority, LLCg y

Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association13 February, 2009

Mepiquat ChlorideMepiquat Chloride• Timing / Rate Appropriate to Growth Stage

• New Varieties

• Mepiquat Productsp q

Mepiquat Decision Aid ChartGrowth Stage Rate Range Selected Notes

8 12 N d 4‐10 oz‐Carries most risk

8‐12 Nodes 4 10 oz(2 oz Stance)

‐Be wary of new, shorter season varieties.

Two Weeks Prior 8‐16 oz ‐Very effective timing ando ee s oto Bloom

8 16 oz(2‐3 oz Stance)

Very effective timing and appropriate for many situations.

E l Bl 12‐18 oz ‐Very little riskEarly Bloom 12 18 oz(2‐4 oz Stance)

Very little risk‐Pay attention to fruit retention

Only high rates are effective

Full Bloom 16‐24 oz(3‐4 oz Stance)

‐Only high rates are effective.‐Good insect and irrigation management is a more effective PGR

DP 555 BG/RR(Equal Yields)

PGRs and DP 555… How much is too much?PGRs and DP 555… How much is too much?

2003, Dean Lee Research Station

PGRs and DP 555…Almost impossible h i ldto hurt yield

2003, Dean Lee Research Station

No New Varieties Grow Like 555

2008 Alexandria OVT

Available Mepiquat Formulationsp qThis is not an exhaustive list…

Mepiquat Chloride Mepiquat Plus SomethingMepiquat Chloride

• Compact (Winfield Solutions)

• Mepex (Nufarm)

Mepiquat Plus Something

• MC + Cyclanilide– Stance (Bayer CropScience)Mepex (Nufarm)

• Mep Star (Albaugh)

• Mepichlor (Arysta)

• MC + Kinetin– Mepex Gin Out (Nufarm)

b• Mepiquat (Loveland)

• Mepiquat Chloride (C S )

• Mepiquat pentaborate– Pentia (BASF)

• MC + Bacillus cereus(CropSmart)

• Pix (TENKOZ)

• Pix Ultra (Arysta)

MC + Bacillus cereus– Pix Plus (Arysta)

Pix Ultra (Arysta)

MC Product Comparison

LSD (0.05) = 1.5

A A

B B B B B B

Data from 19 locations over two years using 6 varieties TrialsData from 19 locations over two years using 6 varieties. Trials conducted by Extension Cotton Specialists in 15 states.

Conclusions from Cotton Specialists’ C d i lMC Product Trials

• All PGR’s examined provided similar plantAll PGR s examined provided similar plant height reductions

• PGR application did not enhance lint yield• PGR application did not enhance lint yield• PGR product selection should be based on

individual grower needs as opposed to aindividual grower needs as opposed to a specific product

• PGR application decisions should be made on ppa field‐by‐field basis each year

Based on data from 19 locations over two years using 6 varietiesBased on data from 19 locations over two years using 6 varieties. Trials conducted by Extension Cotton Specialists in 15 states.

PGR Summary• Focus on timing

• Low rate multiples are OK…but, have very little actual effect after early bloom.

• This is not a 555 world!

• Don’t get hung up on the specific product.

Harvest Aid Timingg• The 12‐Node Rule– In most years, 12 fruiting nodes account for 95%

of the yield harvested in Louisiana.

– Most defoliation timing methods focus on only the upper or unopened portion of the plant, which forces us to guess at what the last harvestable bollforces us to guess at what the last harvestable boll is.

– Counting 12 nodes from the bottom identifies the– Counting 12 nodes from the bottom identifies the last harvestable boll and removes guesswork and chasing of phantom bolls.g p

12

11 Last effective fruiting position•12-node range on the plant

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12 node range on the plant•Anything more is lagniappe and likely to be a ‘phantom boll’

7Difference in age from oldest boll to youngest could be only

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y g y30 days.

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“Planting cotton is the second greatestthe second greatest urge known to man.”g

-Will McCarty