Fulgham, F. E.

Hursh, John S.

Ranney, C. D.

Wooten, O. B.

Scholars Junction - Mississippi State University Institutional Repository

Mississippi State University Scholars Junction Bulletins Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) 5-1-1967 Effects of petroleum mulch on growth and yield of cotton C. D. Ranney O. B. Wooten F. E. Fulgham John S. Hursh Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/mafes-bulletins Recommended Citation Ranney, C. D.; Wooten, O. B.; Fulgham, F. E.; and Hursh, John S., "Effects of petroleum mulch on growth and yield of cotton" (1967). Bulletins. 46. https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/mafes-bulletins/46 This Text is brought to you for free and open access by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) at Scholars Junction. It has been accepted for inclusion in Bulletins by an authorized administrator of Scholars Junction. For more information, please contact scholcomm@msstate.libanswers.com. BULLETIN 740 MAY 1967IEffects Of Petroleum MulchOn Growth And Yield Of CottonMITCHELL W^ '^HiAL LIBRARYAUG 9 .JilMississippi State UniversityAGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONHENRY H. LEVECK, DirectorSTATE COLLEGE MISSISSIPPICONCLUSIONSStudies over a 3-year period indicatethat the use of a black petroleum resinmulch consistently increases soil tem-peratures in the zone ci seed germina-tion and emergence. The improvementin environment for seed germination andearly seedling growth contributed to thesignificant improvement in plant standsobtained from this treatment.Studies conducted in 1963 indicatedthat with mulch bands 6 inches wide,the soil temperature was maximum witha 25-gallon-per-acre application rate.Narrovv^r bands, regardless of rate,were less effective. In 1963 significantincreases in yields were obtained onlyfrom a 6-inch band application of mulch.One of the most serious problems en-countered in working with the petroleummulch was obtaining effective weed con-trol under the mulched area. Of thedifferent herbicides evaluated, only asoil-incorporated application of triflura-lin gave effective weed control in themulch bands.In plantings with widely spaced hills,mulch rates may be reduced by usingspot application techniques. A 9-gallon-per-acre rate, applied in 9-inch squarespots over each hill, was effective inimproving stands.Mulch treatments were quite effectivein reducing soil crusting following rainsin the 1964 test.In general, the use of a petroleummulch seems to be a desirable practice.On the basis of 10 cents per pound forseed cotton, an increase of $77.40 wasobtained from the best mulch treatmentin the 1963 study. This is high returnfor material and equi{>mcnt cost.However, experieuce with handling,transfer, and application of this type ofmulch is necessary to establish its valueas a farm production practice. The vis-cous nature of the product means thaitransfer from shipping containers to ap-plication equipment is slow. Consequently, use of the mulch with the plantingunit would slow down the planting operation considerably. Use of separate application equipment would increase theneed foi labor during the critical plant-ing period.In other published reports^"*, wheremulch was used, yields were increasedonly in very early plantings. With petro-leum mulch costs of at least $8.50 peracre, for the 25-gallGn-per-acre rate,yield increases would need to be considerable to warrant general use. Inareas where early planting is necessary,or where crusting problems are of fre-quent occurrence, the use of mulch couldbe economically feasible.^Cochran, B. I., L. H. Wilkes, G. A. Nilcs.D. I. Dudley, and T. L. Thaxton. 1964. Theeffects of a petroleum mulch on the growth anddevelopment of cotton. Texas A. Exp. StaProgress Report 2312.^Phillips, R. E. and R. E. Frans. 1965. Effectf)f petroleum mulch on growth and yield ofcotton in eastern Arkansas. Ark. Ag. Exp. StaBull. 699. 21 pp.EFFECTS OF PETROLEUM MULCH ONGROWTH AND YIELD OF COTTONBy C. D. RANNEY, O. B. WOOTEN, F. E. FULGHAM, and J. S. HURSH^Mulches of various types have formany years been used in the productionof high-income crops. While the bene-fits obtained from such treatments aredesirable in cotton production, problemsol application and cost of materials of-ten exceed return. In 1962 the HimibleOil and Refining Company made avail-able a specially formulated water emul-sion formulation of petroleum resins^that could be sprayed on the soil toform a black mulch film.Studies were initiated in 1962 at theDelta Branch Experiment Station toevaluate this material as a means ofreducing seedling disease, and of in-creasing cotton growth, development andyield.1962 TestsThe test was planted on April 19, ina randomized block design with six re-plications. The mulch was applied asa spray in a 6-inch band over the seeddrill during the normal planting processby using a conventional bronze gearpump spray system. A single rate of100 gallons per acre of mulch was ap-plied in 6" bands using a single 65 de-gree fan nozzle, with an orifice capacityof 1.5 gallons per minute per row. Sev-eral planter-box fungicides were usedwith the mulch treatment in an effortto reduce seedling disease losses. Apreemergence herbicide, 3-(3,4-dichloro-phenyl) - 1, 1-dimethylurea (diuron)was applied immediately ahead of andplaced underneath the petroleum mulch.Soil temperatures were measured bythermometers placed 2 inches under thesurface of the seedbed. Yield data wereobtained as a single harvest using aspindle-type picker.Results and Discussion, 1962: Themulch treatment alone was as effectiveas a planter-box fungicide in reducingstand losses (Table 1). With high soiltemperatures in early May, PCNB alone(and also with the mulch treatment)was toxic to the developing cotton. Thisaccounts in part for the low stands associated with the 15% PCNB fungicidetreatment.The rate of mulch used in this studyis neither economically nor mechanicallyfeasible for cotton production. But re-sults obtained, and observations madeon the stability of the mulch band, sug-gested that similar benefits might beobtained with lower mulch rates. Themulch treatment promoted weed growth.The diuron herbicide treatment gave ex-cellent control of weeds on either sideof the mulch band, but did not controlweeds adequately in the band of soilcovered by the mulch.Readings at 9 a. m., 2 and 5 p. m.indicated that plantings receiving the^ Plant Pathologist, Crops Research Division,Agricultural Engineers, Agricultural EngineeringResearch Division, Agricultural Research Service,U. S. Department of Agriculture, and AdvisoryAgricultural Meteorologist, Weather Bureau Agri-cultural Service Office, Environmental ScienceServices Administration, U. S. Department ofCommerce, in cooperation with the Delta Branchof the Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Sta-tion, Stoneville, Mississippi.-Trade name ENCAP. Trade names are usedin this publication solely to provide specific in-formation. Mention of a trade name does notconstitute endorsement by the U. S. Departmentof Agriculture or the U. S. Department ofCommerce over other products of a similarnature not mentioned.MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 740mulch treatment had soil temperatures of 1.5 gallons per minute and the 8.5T to 6" F. higher (at the 2-inch level) gallon rate used an orifice capacity ofihan the check plots. .15 gallons per minute. Planting speed^ was 2.5 mph.1963 Tests^The 1963 test was planted on April 12, ''^ multichannel temperature recorderor apoioximately 2 weeks before normal ^^'^^ "^^^ measure temperatures. Asfor this area. The studv was made to capacity of the recorder was limiteddetermine the effect of Vate of applica- ^ readings, onlv temperatures undertion and band width of mulch on the ^^e mid - range of mulch rates wereemergence, final stand, uniformity of measured. A preemergence herbicidestand, and yield of cotton. Mulch "rates treatment, diuron, was applied immedi-and band widths were varied to ^iye ^'^tely ahead of and therefore underneathsimilar film densities. The mulch mtes ^^^''^^ treatments. A randomizedranged from 8.5 to 100 gallons per acre ^^""^^ ^^^^S" ^^^^ ^'"^ replications wasbanded on 40-inch rows. A conventional ^^^^ ^^'^ ^^^^V-bronze gear pump was used to spray Results and Discussion, 1963: Allthe mulch solution. Fan-pattern nozzles mulch treatments gave plant populationswith a 65° spray angle were used. The significantly higher than the check plant-100-gallon rate used an orifice capacity ings (Table 2). However, no greater iini-lable 1. Summary of study evaluating effects of petroleum mulch and 3 pounds per acre applicationsseveral planter-box applied fungicides on stand and yield of cotton, 1962.MulchTreatmentFungicidePlantsper acre^Missing hillsper acre^Yield peracre, lbs. seedcotton^100 gals. None 50,324** 464** 2,553100 gals. Maneb + (10 + 10%) 47,500* 289** 2,372100 gals. Captan -f PCNB (10 -f 10%) 45,918 374** 2,502Vone Maneb + PCNB (10 -f 10%) 44,376 374** 2,482.None Captan -f PCNB (10 + 10%) 43,098 2,392.Mone None 41,926 1,078 2,452None PCNB (15%) 39,596 539** 2,342100 gals. PCNB (15%) 39,471 873 2,181'Asterisks denote treatments significantly better than the untreated check, single asterisk indicates>ignificance at the 5% level, double asterisks indicate significance at the 1% level as measured byOuncan's New Multiple Range Test."-'Differences are not significant.Table 2. Summary of study evaluating different petroleum mulch rates and band widths on stan«iand yield of cotton, 1963.Treatment Yield,Gals. Band Stand, plants/A Hills/A^ lbs. seedmulch width 4/27 5/42 5/182 4/27- 5/4 5/18 cotton/A-0 15,665 16,662 19,529 5,693 5,693 6,316 2,750100 6" 13,421 19,446* 24,142* 4,737* 6,524 6,399 3,447*67 4" 18,408 23,061* 27,258* 5,983 6,607 6,814 3,06250 6" 15,250 20,693* 27,715* 5,526 6,607 6,939 3,338*33 4" 15.873 19,155* 24,931* 5,693 6,233 6,690 3,09025 6'* 16,995 20,070* 26,718* 5,236 6,316 6,981 3,524*17 4" 14,876 18,158 24,516* 5,983 6,441 6,898 3,15112.5 6" 12,216 17,369 22,480* 4,778* 6,067 6,607 2,9508.5 4" 18,158 17,660 22,687* 5,734 5,942 6,399 3,062'Perfect stand would be 7,665 hills.^Asterisks denote treatments significandy different from the untreated check at the .05 level a»measured by Duncan's New Multiple Range Test.EFFECTS OF PETROLEUM ON COTTON 5Figure 1. Research planter using cam-operated switches to synchronize hill-dropplacement of seed and spot application ofa petroleum mulch.formity of stand, as measured by hillsper acre, was obtained from any of themulch t reatments. wStand evaluationsshowed little difference among the var-ious mulch treatments, either in gallonsper acre or band width. When yield isconsidered, striking differences becomeapparent. Band width was a major fac-tor in yield response. A 6-inch bandresulted in yield increases that were notpresent with the narrow 4-inch band.Yield data, as well as all the stand data,indicate that as much benefit was ob-tained from 25 gallons per acre as fromany of the higher rates.Temperature data were evaluated foran 8-day period from April 16-23, 1963.Except for cloudy skies and .10 inch ofrain during one day, weather conditionswere generally clear to partly cloudy,with moderate winds. A summary of theeffect of mulch rates on soil tempera-ture is presented in Figure 2. The rela-tive high temperature recorded underthe 50-gallon-per-acre rale was undoubt-edly due to the slope of the seedbedsurface. Rows were orientated east towest; and because of a damaged planteipresswheel, a slight southerly slope,about 25° downward for three-fourths ofan inch, was formed ovei the seed drill.Although this may seem to be a slightdeviation from the flat seedbed in theother treatments, the slight "profile" exposed to the sun resulted in daytimesoil temperatures 2 to 3° F. higher thanin any other mulch treatment. Damageto the planter presswheel was correctedafter one replication (that in which remperature readings were made) of the 50gallon-per-acre rate was planted.Application of 17 gallons of mulch ona 4-inch band and 25 gallons on a 6-inchband resulted in mulch films of equaldensity. Hence, difference in responseshould be due to band width alone, Astudy of the data for the 25-gallon rateversus the 17-gallon rate shows a slight(but not significant) benefit in stand forthe 25-gallon rate. In yield and tempera-ture the differences are much greater.The advantages of a wider band of equaldensity are apparent in the yield data,and to a lesser but definite extent inthe temperature data. The 12.5 - gallonrate on a 6-inch band resulted in highersoil temperatures than the more dense17-gallon rate on a 4-inch band. Thetemperature data presented are for day-light hours only. The cooling rate atnight was the same for all treatmentsand variations in minimum temperaturewere slight.The use of a preemcrgence herbicidetreatment with diuron failed to give ade-quate weed control in the portion of rowcovered with the petroleum mulch.1964 TestsThe 1964 test was planted on April17 in a randomized block design withfive replications. An effort to reduce6 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 740mulch costs and to achieve effectiveu'eed control seemed desirable to deter-mine the feasibility of using petroleummulch in cotton production. A study us-ing two different mulch patterns andrates, combined with three different her-bicide treatments, was made in 1964.The different mulching patterns (one wasa 6-inch wide continuous band, and theother was a 9-inch square spot centeredover hills 36 inches apart) required 2^and 9 gallons of mulch per acre respec-tively.A research planter was designed tosynchronize a sprayed spot of mulchover the hill-planted cottonseed, figure 1.Electrical switches, which were actuatedby single-lobe cams, controlled a com-pressed air system. Miniature air cylin-ders operated the planter hill-drop valveand a quick opening valve mounted inthe discharge line of each mulch spraynozzle. Cam lengths and placement con-trolled the opening of the hill-drop vhIn cand the length and spacing of the sprav-ed spots. The nozzle valve was placedin the open position to apply the con-tinuous band treatments.These two methods gave mulch filmsof equal density but with different areasand continuity. A planter-box fungicidetreatment, 3 pounds per acre of 10%PCNB-10% captan, was used in all plant-ings. Preemergence herbicide treatmentsof 2,4-bis(isopropylamino)-6-methylmerc-apto-s-triazine (prometryne) and a,a,a-trifluro-2,6-dinitro- N, N -dipropylp-p-tolui-EFFECT OF PETROLEUM MULCH ON SOIL TEMPERATUREAPRIL 16-23. 1963oc mui'Qat i/>50302520151012.5 17 25 33 50GALLONS OF PETROLEUM MULCH67Figure 2. Effect of different rates of petroleum mulcii on soil temperatures at the2-inch level.F.FFRCTS OF PFTROLFUM ON COTTON^^^^^^^Figure 3. Cotton emerging through spot and band applications of mulch. With asoil-incorporated treatment with trifluralin, effectiv'e weed control was obtainedunder the mulch.dine (trifluralin) were applied in bands20 inches wide and incorporated into theseedbed with a commercial soil tiller.Thermistors were placed 2 inches un-der the center of the seed drill to re-cord temperatures on a multichannel re-corder.In each test, seed were planted l'/^inches deep in moist soil of preformedbeds.Results and Discussion, 1964. The ef-fects of mulch and herbicide treatmentson plant population, stand, and weed con-trol are summarized in Table 3. Earlyplanting combined with very adverse en-vironmental conditions resulted in severeseedling disease losses. Mulch treat-ments were effective in reducing standloss. Soil crusting was greatly reducedwhere mulch was applied. The most en-couraging result was the weed controlobtained in the mulch-treated areas wherethe herbicide trifluralin was used. Thiswas the first effective weed control ob-tained with preemergence herbicideswhere mulch was used, Figure 3.Temperature studies, summarized inTable 4, illustrate the effectiveness otthe mulch treatments in increasing soiltemperatures. During the interval fromApril 22 to April 27, 5.53 inches of rainwere recorded. The temperature datarecorded after the heavy rainfall occur-red serve to illustrate the durability andeffectiveness of the mulch treatment.The rain came as heavy downpours total-ing 1.47 inches on the 22nd, 1.04 incheson the 25th, and 3.02 inches on the 26th.This heavy rainfall reduced the mulch'seffectiveness, as measured by ability toincrease soil temperatures, but the bandtreatment remained 86 percent effective.The spot treatment remained 69 percent8 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 740effective. Following this rainy periodsoil surfaces on untreated plantings anduntreated areas between spot applicationdeveloped a severe crusting problem.However, mulched areas, free from thecrust, were readily penetrated by cottonseedlings and in some cases by weedsTable 3. Summary of study evaluating two methods of applying petroleum mulch in combinationwith two different preemergence herbicides on seedling disease and weed control, 1964.Treatment Stand' % freedomof weeds'*Mulch Method Gals./A Herbicide Lbs./A^ Plants/A HilLs/A^None None 12,450abcd 3,409 c 38None Prometryne 1.25 9,600 cd 3,557abc 90None Trifluralin 0.62 8,850 d 3,758abc 99Yes 6" band 25 Prometryne 1.25 15,200a 4,158a 72Yes 6" band 25 Trifluralin 0.62 12,650abc 4,058abc 98Yes 9" spot 9 Prometryne 1.25 ll,750abcd 3,758abc 76Yes 9" spot 9 Trifluralin 0.62 14,400ab 4,I08ab 98Plant population per acre, 40-inch rows. Means followed by same letter are not significant)\different at the .05 \evei as measured by Duncan's New Multiple Range Test.^Band rate, not broadcast.^A perfect stand would be 4,356 hills.^Annual grasses.Table 4. Comparisons of soil temperatures, at the 2-inch level, under petroleum mulches before amiafter 5.53 inches of rain. Delta Branch Experiment Station, Stoneville, Miss., April 18-May 5, 1964Mulch treatmentApril 18-21 "~^7i 29-May 5Comparison Band Spot None Band Spot NoneAverage 24-hr. temperature, ° F. 72.16 71.84 71.35 70.47 70.20 69.94Increase above check, ° F. .81 .49 .54 .26Degree hours peir day above a65° P. base 171.84 164.16 152.40 131.28 124.80 1 18.56Increase of degree hours per dayabove check 19.44 11.76 12.72 6.24Percent increase 12.76 7.72 10.73 5.26

Effects of petroleum mulch on growth and yield of cotton

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Effects of petroleum mulch on growth and yield of cotton

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