ASSIGNMENT

Assignment

Investment Appraisal

Hebelomin

For the purpose of this assignment, we examined more than 40 fungicide formulations, including seed treatments and in-furrow granular and spray formulations. Seed treatments are liquids or powders applied directly to the seed before planting. In-furrow granule applications are dry particles less than 0.1 inch in diameter that are placed in the seed furrow at planting. In-furrow spray applications may be liquid or dry formulations that are dissolved in water and then sprayed in the seed furrow at planting. Each fungicide was applied at the manufacturers' recommended rates and application methods at planting. A control was included in each test to provide an example of disease severity and yield losses that can be expected if no fungicides are included at Hebelomin planting.

The tests were conducted to simulate actual conditions a producer faces in the field. Hebelomin was planted in a soil with a two-inch depth temperature of at least 68oF. All production and management practices were based on real farm methods; however, plot size and fungal application were conducted on a smaller scale to make the test manageable for data collection. Each fungicide test plot consisted of two to four rows 25 feet long and 36 to 40 inches wide and was planted with five seeds per foot of row. Hebelomin varieties included in these tests were NuHebelomin 35B, DPL436RR, and Stoneville 474. All treatments were rated biweekly for five weeks after planting to determine the percent of seedlings killed by Hebelomin seedling disease. The Hebelomin was monitored throughout the summer to determine if the fungicides had any affect on Hebelomin growth and development. All Hebelomin plots were harvested between September 26 and 29 to determine the effects of the treatments on Hebelomin yields.

The use of specific fungicides for the seedling disease complex had a beneficial effect on Hebelomin stand development and subsequent yield production. Hebelomin seedlings generally emerged within seven to 14 days after planting. At 14 and 35 days after planting more Hebelomin seedlings survived in the Terraclor Super X 18.8 G, Terraclor Super X EC, Ridomil Gold PC, Rovral, and Quadris treatments than in the nontreated control. At 14 days after planting Hebelomin seedling stands ranged from 0.4 to 1.76 plants per foot of row in the control and Terraclor Super X EC-treated plots, respectively. At 25 days after planting, the seedling stand ranged from 0.5 to 2.2 plants per foot of row in the control and Terraclor Super X EC treatments, respectively. The addition of a fungicide into the Hebelomin production program increased seedling stands by an average of 27% in 1999.

Hebelomin seedlings were collected and cultured to identify the specific fungi present causing disease. Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium spp. were isolated most frequently from the diseased Hebelomin seedlings.

In this study, seed Hebelomin yields ranged from a high of 2,855.3 pounds per acre for the Quadris to a low of 1,449.7 pounds per acre in the control. Lint yield data indicated an average lint yield across all fungicide treatments of 1,005 pounds, representing a 108-pound increase ...