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(click for more information)
Data From the First Four Years(under
construction)
Objective 1: Develop and compare the economic and
environmental benefits of conventional and sod based farming systems using
conservation tillage systems
Objective 2: Quantify the positive impact that sod
based rotations have on soil health, pest reduction, water use, and sustainable
farm production
Objective 3: Refine and promote production practices in
a sod based rotation which result in significant yield increases associated with
decreased inputs
JUSTIFICATION:
Main production limitations in the Southeast are infertile,compacted, droughty
soils and pests. There is a low cost way to markedly reduce the impact of each
of these limitations, and that is using a sod based rotation of bahia or bermuda
grass in the cropping system. Bahia or bermuda grass adds organic matter to
infertile soils for better nutrient and water holding capacity, while grass
roots grow through the compacted soil layer allowing subsequent row crop roots
to move through the compacted layer for access to more water and nutrients.
These grasses also reduce nematode populations and other pests. Water in the
soil profile is conserved and utilized by subsequent crops, since rooting depth
of row crops is often 10 times deeper following bahia or bermuda grass as in
conventional cropping systems. This could result in as little as one-tenth the
current water use for irrigation, alleviating some of the water problems
currently being debated in Tri-state water talks. Most growers will agree that
sod based rotations with bahia or bermuda grass will increase yield of crops by
50-100%. State average yield of peanut in the Southeast is about 2500 pounds per
acre and is often increased to 3500-4500 pounds per acre after bahiagrass. When
economic analyses are done on cotton and peanut in a sod based rotation, profits
are about 4 times greater as in a conventional peanut-cotton rotation. The
increased farm profitability would create jobs in smaller rural towns making
them a viable place for young people to stay and live and work
INTRODUCTION:
The use of crop rotation is a fundamental principle of sound crop
production. The rotation of bahiagrass sod, which can be used as pasture or cut
for hay, is a proven method to increase yields of peanut and cotton crops. This
multi-state project has research sites in Alabama, Florida and Georgia and
involves cooperation from state and federal agencies. In Alabama and at one
Florida site, cattle will be used to harvest the grass produced as stocker
cattle and cow-calf operations, respectively. At the second Florida site and at
Georgia, the grass will be harvested as hay.
OBJECTIVES:
The primary objective of this project is to develop an
economically and environmentally sustainable sod based cattle- row crop
production system appropriate for the biological and social conditions of the
southeastern United States. This project will deliver a viable production system
for small farms in the 100 to 800-acre range. These farms include family farms,
as well as a large number of minority and presently under funded farmers. Larger
farms will also benefit from the project outcomes.
IPM:
By incorporating cultural control strategies into the row crop production
system, the IPM of several plant pests will be dramatically altered. First, on
any specific farm the use of pesticides on cotton will be reduced by at least
two -thirds, since only one quarter of the farm will be in cotton rather than
the conventional three quarters. Second, the bahiagrass is expected to eliminate
the need for nematicides on cotton and peanuts. Finally, the use of herbicides
may be reduced because of the pasture -row crop rotation not allowing any
specific weed to reach pest levels. This is especially important when
morningglory becomes a problem in glyphosate resistant crops. Due to the
reduction in total area treated and the reduction in what is applied to a
specific area, we expect that the pesticide load on an individual farm will be
25% less for fungicides, 100% less for nematicides, and 50% less for herbicides.
IMPACT:
This is a multi-disciplinary project requiring a team of scientists
with a wide range of expertise. Agronomists, soil scientists, entomologists,
plant pathologists, weed scientists, animal scientists and economists have all
come together in the development and establishment of this project. The impact
of the project will be felt throughout the southeastern United States,
especially in the rural communities that are still dependent upon farm
production and other natural resources. This project will significantly enhance
the economic value of row crop production in the Southeast by increasing yields
while decreasing production costs. It will reduce runoff and increase water use
efficiency by allowing the row crops to establish deeper roots in the soils
following bahiagrass. Finally, it will reduce the need for many pesticides as
the bahiagrass will reduce harmful plant parasitic nematodes. Other pests
including insects, pathogens, and weeds will also be reduced due to the
rotation.
ECONOMICS:
Economic models developed thus far indicate that a 200-acre farm can
increase its net profit from less than $10,000 per year, under the present
peanut-cotton-cotton rotation, to over $40,000 per year with the bahiagrass
rotation. There is also a reduction in pesticide costs of over $6,000 on the
farm practicing the rotation. All of these add up to an economically viable and
sustainable production system. A simple spread sheet model can be used by
interested producers to see how their particular farming operation may benefit
from a bahiagrass rotation with either cattle or hay production as compared to a
conventional cotton-peanut cropping system.
NOTE:
Click on the appropriate model below to download the spreadsheet:
Answer SAVE to download the file or OPEN to view the file. If
asked for Password click Cancel .
While you have the Excel file open and you want to save the FILE, click File
and select Work offline then Save AS
Download business
model for bahiagrass and cotton rotation
Download business
model for bahiagrass, peanuts, and cotton rotaion
Download business
model for bahiagrass, cattle, peanuts, and cotton rotation
Principle Investigators
Dallas L. Hartzog, Extension Agronomist and Professor, Agronomy and Soils,
Auburn University
Email:
dhartzog@acesag.auburn.edu
David L. Wright, Extension Agronomist and Professor, Agronomy, University of
Florida
Email:
dlw@mail.ifas.ufl.edu
James J. Marois, Professor, Plant Pathology, University of Florida
Email:
marois@mail.ifas.ufl.edu
John A. Baldwin, Extension Agronomist and Professor, Crop and Soil Science,
University of Georgia
Email:
jbaldwin@tifton.cpes.peachnet.edu
D. Wayne Reeves, Research Leader, USDA-ARS-SAA-SPCRC, Watkinsville, GA
Email:
dwreeves@arches.uga.edu
James F. Adams, Associate Professor, Agronomy and Soils, Auburn University
Email:
jadams@acesag.auburn.edu
James R. Weeks, Extension Entomologist and Associate Professor, Entomology,
Auburn University
Email:
jweeks@acesag.auburn.edu
Jimmy R. Rich, Professor, Nematology, University of Florida
Email:
jrich@mail.ifas.ufl.edu
Ann R. Blount, Assistant Professor, Agronomy, University of Florida
Email:
ablount@mail.ifas.ufl.edu
Richard K. Sprenkel, Extension Entomologist and Professor, University of Florida
Email:
rks@mail.ifas.ufl.edu
Timothy D. Hewitt, Extension Economist and Professor, Food and Resource
Economics, University of Florida
Email:
thewitt@mail.ifas.ufl.edu
Robert O. Myer, Professor, Animal Science, University of Florida
Email:
BMyer@ifas.ufl.edu
Tawainga Katsvairo, Agronomist, University of Florida
Email: TWKatsvairo@ifas.ufl.edu
Gary J. Gascho, Professor and REIC, Crop and Soil Sciences, University of
Georgia
Email:
gascho@tifton.cpes.peachnet.edu
Joey Shaw, Assistant Professor, Agronomy and Soils, Auburn University
Email:
shawjo1@auburn.edu
Kris Balkcom, Program Associate, Agronomy and Soils, Auburn University
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