COST-CUTTING FERTILIZATION AND RATOONING TECHNOLOGIES SHOWN AT BEAUMONT FIELD DAY

Contact: Dr. Jim Stansel (409 752-3045)

BEAUMONT—Cutting production costs through optimal fertilizer rates and seedling densities, and the potential of ratooning, or harvesting a second crop that grows from stubble after the main harvest, were featured at the 17 July field day of the Texas A&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Beaumont.

The slogan "A Half Century of Progress" commemorated the Beaumont Center's 50th rice field day. More than 200 rice farmers and industry leaders attended.

"Fifty years ago, fertilized rice yielded 2,700 pounds per acre—only 600 pounds higher than unfertilized rice," said Dr. Fred Turner, Center Agronomist. "Last year, fertilizer applied to the same Beaumont clay soil increased rice yield by 4,000 pounds per acre. That's a 500% increase in fertilizer response over the past 50 years.

"Putting it another way, a pound of nitrogen fertilizer gave the farmer 7.5 pounds of additional rice in 1947," Turner continued. "Today, that pound of N gives 23.5 pounds of rice. Better varieties and production practices make the difference."

Turner summarized research on optimal combinations of N rate and plant populations for new rice varieties. "Low plant populations—12 to 14 seedlings per square foot—require more N than normal populations of about 20 seedlings.

"The new variety Jefferson should be planted at seeding rates 10% to 25% higher than for the other varieties," the agronomist said. "It has the largest seeds, which means fewer seeds per pound."

Higher plant populations also tend to give a higher ratoon crop.

"And the ratoon crop is increasingly important to the Texas rice industry," Turner said. "The ratoon crop yielded about 3,000 pounds per acre in field trials at Eagle Lake.

"Ratooned rice accounted for only 30% of the total yield—but almost 60% of the profit."

The ratoon crop is almost free—it doesn't have to be planted or tilled, and needs little herbicide, Turner points out. "Essentially, the farmer fertilizes, floods, and harvests the crop."

Jefferson's early maturity—about 120 days--makes it a good ratoon variety. "The earlier start means a higher ratoon harvest."

Ways to measure how much starch remains in stubble after the main crop harvest are being developed, Turner said.

"The starch is a reservoir of carbohydrates for the ratoon crop," Turner explains. "Its measurement can indicate what inputs will maximize ratoon profits."

The Beaumont Center serves the billion-dollar rice and soybean industry of the Texas Rice Belt. About 75% of the Center's work is on rice.