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Show Alfalfa Seed Survival Improves With New Coating Procedures Historically, alfalfa of inoculation process growers have increased provides a far wider range of yields and improved quality benefits. for employing more efficient Generally speaking, the of procedures for irrigating, major objective fertilizing, harvesting and inoculating legume seeds other comparable farming such as alfalfa is to provide practices. proper bacteria for effective These diverse agricultural root nodulation which procedures, interestingly enables the plant to fix free enough, share a common nitrogen from the air and to denominator; they all take convert it to a form that can place after the seed has been be utilized by the plant for planted. growth and nutrition. A major breakthrough of But a new concept is nowt alfalfa the Rhizo-Kot- e in emerging program is production: it relates to that it selects the most efwhat takes place before the ficient strains of rhizobia or seed is planted, rather than bacteria for individual alfalfa varities. after. Other advantages of this type of inoculation include increased weight for uniforn seed distribution, lower seed cost and improve emergence and survival resulting from surrounding the seed with a controlled germination zone. The Rhizo-Kot- e system of also provides a carrier capable of holding Inoculating alfalfa and a far greater number of other legume seeds with rhizobia than the conbacteria is not exactly a ventional methods of prerecent discovery. What is inoculation. new is that the recently Although rhizobia may be introduced Rhizo-Kot- e present in different soil are involved: the seeds prior Coating to planting to aid emergence and survival, to reduce seed costs and to provide massive numbers of the proper nitrogen-fixin- g bacteria and 2. Planting varieties that have been bred to exhibit the most desirable traits for specific growing areas. Two factors 1. THrOLTsn t&jVZSSr TX 92 Performs well on high ph soil. Good energence and drought tolerance. Excellent quality grain. TX 111 Consistant, - TDQJAN -- Ear.small cob permit excellent harvestability. . high test weight. SELECT THE TROJAN VARITIES TO FIT YOUR FAMING HEEPSh. tss BW 1 nodulation may be lacking. In contrast, the Rhizo-Kot- e process provides massive amounts of the desired strain of rhizobia required for peak success. Carl Spiva, agronomist and sales manager for CelPril Industries, Inc., Manteca, Calif., points out that seed coating adds a new dimension to the success of emergence and survival of the seedlings. Spivas research indicates that frequently the planting of raw seeded legumes such as alfalfa achieve only 30 percent emergence and survival due largely to a lack of uniform planting depth. Coated seed overcomes this problem, Spiva explained, by surrounding the seed with materials that absorb and hold moisture around the entire seed surface. Raw seeds, unless pressed into the soil with a ring roller or similar a present equipment, relatively smaller amount of surface for contact with the soil. The Rhizo-Kot- e coating also neutralizes the pH in the germination zone which contributes to optimum nodulation and seedling development. The high concentration of rhizobia in the coating offers added insurance. Although the coating protects the rhizobia from ultra-viollight, provides insulation from heat and toxic materials and. keeps the rhizobia alive longer, the major benefits provided the farmer include improved emergence and increased seedling survival. ferent farms in over nine states in recent trials. In a series of trials on 39 farms during the growing season, every 100 47 past out of coated seeds into developed strong seedlings a at the end of six to eight weeks. However, only 33 out of every 100 raw seeds survived through this same period. Thus, the coated seeds had a survival gain of 43 percent over the raw seeds. This same study also indicated that the use of coated seed provides substantial savings in seed costs. A seeding rate of 18 pounds of coated seed per acre provides 2.5 million seeds per acre or approximatley 60 plants per square foot. However, only 10 plants per square foot are required for maximum production. The same stand can be produced and at a much lower cost by planting 25 to 30 percent fewer coated seeds. Eighteen pounds of coated seed provides the same stand as 18 pounds of raw seed but due to the weight of the coating provides only 12 pounds of actual seed. However, because of the higher rate of survival of the coated seed the final stand is equal to planting the higher number of raw seeds. Alfalfa varieties that have been bred especially for the conditions growing prevailing in the Pacific InNorthwest and termountain states include WL-21- WL-220- ,, WL-30- 9 and For those areas where two cuttings per season and are practiced, WL-21- 5 0 are especially recommended. Although thse varieties are comis a more parable, WL-22- 0 WL-31- WL-22- recent introduction and possesses a slightly higher yield potential. In addition to their top yield both performance 400 anthracnose and spotted alfalfa aphid. WL-30- 9 and are proving extremely adapWL-31- 8 table to those sections of the Pacific Northwest and In- a relatively longer growing season. In University trials and commercial planting during the past five years WL-309 has exhibited extremely high yield potential and outstanding resistance to pea aphid, spotted alfalfa aphid and bacterial wilt It also shows exceptional leafiness all the way down the slender stems. WL-31- 8 has consistently outyielded Lahontan. It exhibits strong resistance to Phytophthora root rot, good resistance to spotted alfalfa aphid, pea aphid, bacterial stem wilt, nematode, fusarium wilt and other crown and root rot organisms. And it shows fast recovery after festation. weevil 4500 REBATE have tyfinwiiii states termountain possessing et oononsM ny 1 .rift maximum indicated that the Rhizo-Kot- e seed coating improves emergence in alkaline as well as in acid soils by maintaining a controlled germination zone around each seed. The neutridized soil area resulting provides the rljizobia with an 'ideal iqpdium for initiating ef--. fecfive nodulation at the seedling strage. Research conducted by CelPril Industries, Inc., in California relative to the benefits of coating alfalfa seed have receQtiy been drought Long produce Controlled tests high yielding. Excellent .tolerance. types, the concentration of the requried strains to varieties have a wide range of adaptability due to their strong resistance to winter kill in the cooler and higher areas. elevation They possess strong resistance to bacterial wilt and pea aphids and m moderate resistance to Phytophthora root rot, On Ford Tractors -Plus an Interest Waiver on industrial Equipment 3i Until May t Come Make Your Best-De- al ! in- - |