NOTICE TO USERS

This Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Information Bulletin is a summary of research conducted at the branch stations of the Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center. These include the Brown Loam Branch Experiment Station in Raymond, the Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station in Newton, and the Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station in Crystal Springs and Beaumont. In addition, this information bulletin includes summaries of some of the primary Extension programs conducted by MSU-ES specialists in the Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center. It is intended for colleagues, cooperators, and sponsors. The interpretation of data in this publication may change after additional experimentation. This information is not to be construed either as a recommendation for use or as an endorsement of a specific variety or product by Mississippi State University or the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

This report contains data generated as a part of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station research program. Cooperating personnel are listed on pages 7 to 10.

Trade names of commercial products used in this bulletin are included only for clarity and understanding. Any experimental pesticides were used in accordance with EPA Experimental Use Regulations (40 CFR 172.3) (Section 5 of FIFRA).

This publication was published by the Office of Agricultural Communications, a unit of the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University.

REPORT OF THE

CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER

Including Station Reports from

Brown Loam Branch Experiment Station

Raymond

Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station

Newton

and

Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station

Crystal Springs

2002 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER

1320 Seven Springs Road

Raymond, MS 39154

Phone: 601-857-2284

Fax: 601-857-2358

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/cmrec

Brown Loam Branch Experiment Station

1676 Brown Loam Road

Raymond, MS 39154

Phone: 601-857-5952

Fax: 601-857-2887

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/cmrec/bles

Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station

55 Coastal Plain Road

Newton, MS 39345

Phone: 601-683-2084

Fax: 601-683-6770

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/cmrec/cpes

Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station

P. O. Box 231

Crystal Springs, MS 39059

Phone: 601-892-3731

Fax: 601-892-2056

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/cmrec/truckcrops.htm

Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................. 1

Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center Staff.................................................................... 5

Cooperating Personnel....................................................................................................................... 7

History and Mission......................................................................................................................... 11

Advisory Council Minutes................................................................................................................ 14

BEEF - Research

LIVE ANIMAL CARCASS TRAITS AS INFLUENCED BY ESTROUS SYNCHRONIZATION PROTOCOL AND EFFECTS ON FERTILITY IN NULLIPAROUS BEEF HEIFERS................................................ 22

INTERRELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TEMPERAMENT AND PRODUCTIVE TRAITS IN BEEF CATTLE 28

DAIRY - Research

A COMPARISON OF JESUP MaxQâ NON-TOXIC ENDOPHYTE-INFECTED

TALL FESCUE AND JACKSONâ RYEGRASS AS FORAGES

FOR LACTATING DAIRY COWS............................................................................................... 29

THE EFFECT OF COOLING SRATEGY DURING SUMMER HEAT STRESS ON PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE AND BODY COMPOSITION QUALITY TRAITS IN LACTATING HOLSTEIN DAIRY CATTLE......................................................................................................................................... 33

FAMILY AND YOUTH - Extension

BILINGUAL PROGRAM.............................................................................................................. 41

FORAGE CROPS - Research

2001-02 RYEGRASS VARIETY EVALUATION......................................................................... 42

EFFECT OF POULTRY LITTER RATES VS COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER ON RYEGRASS YIELD AND CHANGE IN SOIL PHOSPHORUS LEVELS.............................................................................. 44

BERMUDAGRASS VARIETY EVALUATION............................................................................ 46

PERFORMANCE OF TALL FESCUE.......................................................................................... 48

YIELD OF EASTERN GAMAGRASS VS CORN HYBRIDS AS SILAGE.................................. 50

SEEDED BERMUDA VARIETY TRIAL....................................................................................... 51

TALL FESCUE VARIETY TRIAL ................................................................................................ 52

RYEGRASS VARIETY TRIAL ..................................................................................................... 57

EASTERN GAMAGRASS VARIETY TRIAL .............................................................................. 61

HYBRID BERMUDAGRASS VARIETY TRIAL .......................................................................... 66

PERENNIAL PEANUT ADAPTABILITY TO CENTRAL AND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI ............ 69

NITROGEN SOURCE, POTASSIUM, AND SUBSOIL TILLAGE EFFECTS ON BERMUDAGRASS PRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 69

EVALUATION OF NOVEL-ENDOPHYTE FESCUE UNDER GRAZING CONDITIONS....... 74

FORESTRY – Extension

FORESTRY EDUCATION IN SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI ...................................................... 84

HORTICULTURE – Research and Extension

THE 2002 FALL FLOWER & GARDEN FEST............................................................................ 85

MISSISSIPPI MEDALLION SPRING 2002 ................................................................................ 85

TOLERANCE OF EIGHT ORNAMENTAL GRASS SPECIES TO SELECTED PREEMERGENT HERBICIDES 85

THE EFFERCT OF FERTILIZER PLACEMENT ON WEED GROWTH IN CONTAINER PRODUCTION 88

THE EFFECTS OF FERTILIZER PLACEMENT AND HERBICIDE RATE ON WEED CONTROL AND PLANT GROWTH IN CONTAINER GROWN ILEX CRENATA ‘COMPACTA’ ................................... 94

Biological and chemical fungicide control of pecan scab, 2002 ............ 99

ROW CROPS - Research

EARLY MATURING CORN HYBRID TRIAL .......................................................................... 100

LATE MATURING CORN HYBRID TRIAL.............................................................................. 102

WHEAT AND OAT VARIETY EVALUATIONS....................................................................... 104

CORN HYBRIDS FOR SILAGE, 2002....................................................................................... 107

POSTEMERGENCE SOYBEAN WEED CONTROL................................................................. 112

STALE SEEDBED SOIL-APPLIED WEED CONTROL SYSTEMS.......................................... 113

CONTROL OF SOUTHWESTERN CORN BORER DIATREA GRANDIOSELLA IN LABORATORY AND FIELD STUDIES .................................................................................................................................... 114

EVALUATION OF SEED TREATMENTS FOR CONTROL OF SOIL INSECTS IN CORN PRODUCTION 114

MONITORING OF THE SOUTHWESTERN CORN BORER MOTH IN MISSISSIPPI CORN PRODUCTION AREAS......................................................................................................................................... 115

EVALUATION OF GRANULAR AND TREATED SEED INSECTICIDES FOR CONTROL OF EARLY SEASON INSECT PESTS OF COTTON ................................................................................................... 115

CONTROLLING FALL ARMYWORM LARVAE IN BERMUDA PASTURE LAND: A COMPARISON OF INSECTICIDE TREATMENTS................................................................................................... 116

COMPARISONS BETWEEN TRANSGENIC BT AND NON-BT CORN VARIETIES IN CONTROL OF SOUTHWESTERN CORN BORERS AND YIELD.................................................................... 116

COMPARISONS OF FOLIAR INSECTICIDES FOR CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS IN SOYBEANS COMPARISONS......................................................................................................................... 117

COMPARISONS OF AT PLANTING SOIL INSECTICIDES FOR CONTROL OF SOIL INSECT PESTS OF CORN ......................................................................................................................................... 117

VEGETABLES – Research and Extension

ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS TRIALS.................................................................................... 118

THE 2002 GREENHOUSE TOMATO SHORT COURSE.......................................................... 118

THE VEGETABLE PRESS NEWSLETTER ............................................................................... 119

VEGETABLE RELATED WEB PAGES...................................................................................... 119

TRIPLOID WATERMELON CULTIVAR EVALUATION, SUMMER 2002............................. 120

EXRENSION PLANT PATHOLOGY ACTIVITIES................................................................... 124

2002 LARGE-FRUITED RED TOMATO TRIAL........................................................................ 126

2002 PERSIMMON CULTIVAR OBSERVATIONS ................................................................. 127

2002 FALL CABBAGE OBSERVATIONS ................................................................................ 129

2002 VEGETABLE AND HERB GARDEN OBSERVATIONS.................................................. 132

FUNGICIDES AND ADJUVANTS FOR DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN PUMPKINS............ 148

EARLY TOMATO PRODUCTION IN MISSISSIPPI ............................................................... 153

2002 tomato cultivar evaluation ............................................................................ 157

2002 GALIA MELON CULTIVAR EVALUATION .................................................................. 160

PASTEURIZED BROILER LITTER PELLETS FOR TOMATO PRODUCTION....................... 162

RESPONSE OF SWEET POTATO TO FOLIAR NUTRIENTS ................................................ 166

SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF COMPOSED BROILER LITTER FOR VEGETABLE PRODUCTION 170

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT – Research

EFFECT OF POULTRY LITTER VS COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER ON RYEGRASS YIELD AND SOIL PHOSPHORUS........................................................................................................................... 174

EFFECT OF POULTRY LITTER VS COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER ON CORN SILAGE YIELD AND SOIL PHOSPHORUS........................................................................................................................... 174

EFFECT OF POULTRY LITTER VS COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER AND METHOD OF TILLAGE ON CORN SILAGE YIELD AND SOIL PHOSPHORUS ............................................................................ 175

AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF PASTURE AND

BROILER LITTER APPLICATION MANAGEMENT IN SMALL PLOTS .............................. 177

AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF PASTURE

AND BROILER LITTER APPLICATION MANAGEMENT ..................................................... 177

BROILER LITTER MANAGEMENT FOR LAND PRODUCTIVITY

AND WATER QUALITY: FORESTRY COMPONENT ............................................................ 178

STEER PERFORMANCE AND RYEGRASS PRODUCTION RESPONSES TO TIMING OF BROILER LITTER AND COMMERCIAL NITROGEN FERTILIZER APPLICATION .......................................... 179

GRAZING CATTLE EFFECTS ON NUTRIENT AND BACTERIAL LOADING OF

INTERMITTENT STREAMS ..................................................................................................... 188

PESTICIDE EDUCATION - Extension

PESTICIDE APPLICATOR CERTIFICATION TRAINING PROGRAM.................................. 189

CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER STAFF

Raymond, Mississippi

F. T. Withers, Jr., Head

Don Smith – Interim Southwest District Director – ANR/4-H

Deborah Knight – Interim Southwest District Director - F&Y/4-H

Stephen G. Dicke - Forestry Specialist

Norman Winter - Horticulture Specialist

Don Parker – Entomology Specialist²/Research Scientist

David Ingram – Plant Pathology Specialist⁴/Research Scientist

Elmo Collum - Pesticide Education Coordinator

Trey DeLoach – Forestry Associate

Marina Presley - Bilingual Nutrition Educator

Kathy Bryant - Secretary

Joyce Gilmer - Secretary

Audrey Barnes - Secretary

Nancy Strickland - Secretary

Felicia Washington – Secretary

Manola Erby – Alcorn State University Youth Specialist⁵

Ray Magee – Alcorn State University Loan Specialist⁵

Loletha Boyd – Alcorn State University Secretary⁵

Brown Loam Branch Station

Raymond, MS

Rhonda Vann – Research Coordinator/Assistant Research Professor

Bisoondat Macoon – Assistant Research Agronomist

Blair Boyd - Operations Coordinator/Research Associate

Stanley Howell – Beef Cattle Herdsman

Tim Nowell - Farm Supervisor

Cheri Womack – Secretary

John D. Perkins – Research Associate

James Green - Farm Laborer

Gregory Scott - Farm Laborer

Eugene Scott - Farm Laborer

Matthew Bozeman – Animal Caretaker

(Continued)

¹15% MAFES - 85% MSU-ES

²50% MAFES - 50% MSU-ES

³25% MAFES - 75% MSU-ES

⁴75% MSU-ES - 25% MAFES

⁵ASU Cooperative Extension Service

Coastal Plain Branch Station

Newton, MS

Edward J. Murphey - Superintendent/Associate Dairy Scientist

Billy B. Johnson - Senior Research Associate

Tony Adams - Dairy Herdsman

Doug Everett - Assistant Dairy Herdsman

Glenda Darley - Secretary

Ed Darley - Ground Maintenance Supervisor

Larry Huey - Farm Laborer

Elaine Boyd - Farm Laborer

Ross Little - Farm Laborer

Curtis Pugh - Farm Laborer

Terry Giblin - Farm Laborer

Lamar Swanner - Farm Laborer

Truck Crops Branch Station

Crystal Springs, MS

William B. Evans – Assistant Research Horticulturist/Research Coordinator

Richard G. Snyder – Horticulture Specialist⁴/Research Scientist – Vegetables

Glenn Fain – Assistant Research Horticulturist - Ornamentals

Peter M. Hudson - Research Associate II/Operations Coordinator

Janie Taylor – Secretary

Vickey Daniels – Secretary

Everette Hamilton - Farm Laborer

Anne Lee – Intermittent Farm Laborer

L. D. Lee - Farm Laborer

David Williams - Farm Laborer

Eric Rhymes – Farm Laborer

Cecil Williams – Farm Laborer

¹15% MAFES - 85% MSU-ES

²50% MAFES - 50% MSU-ES

³25% MAFES - 75% MSU-ES

⁴75% MSU-ES - 25% MAFES

COOPERATING PERSONNEL

MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY EXPERIMENT STATION

Director - Vance H. Watson

Associate Director - Marty Fuller

Assistant Director – Clarence Watson