Keywords

Introduction

Materials and
Methods

Results and
Discussion

Conclusions

References

Project
Background

Agricultural Crop Additive (ACA) is a product originally developed by Amoco Oil Co., Chicago, IL, to be used as an additive to anhydrous ammonia (Oplinger, 1990). Currently, the product is the property of United Agri Products, Greeley, CO. ACA is ammonia zinc acetate formulated by combining acetic acid, water, anhydrous ammonia and zinc oxide to provide a product containing 15% ammonical nitrogen and 17% Zn by weight. ACA has been tested for several years as a soil additive with mixed results (Oplinger, 1990). The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of ACA on seed germination, plant emergence, plant growth rate, grain yield and grain test weight under laboratory and field conditions when applied to seed.

Materials and Methods
Laboratory and field experiments were conducted in 1994, 1995 and 1996. ACA was applied to hard red spring wheat (cv. 2375) seed at 0, 1.7, 3.4 and 6.8 fl oz/bu. ACA was applied in a water solution with a laboratory model seed treater utilizing a total volume of 8.5 fl oz/bu. Vitavax (carboxin-2,3-dihydro-5-carboxanilido-6-methy-1,4-oxathiin) seed treatment was inadvertently applied to seed in 1994 for planting in the field at 3 fl oz/cwt in water solution utilizing a volume of 5 fl oz/cwt. Consequently, Vitavax was continued as a seed treatment in the field trials for the duration of the study.

Laboratory experiments were conducted in a growth chamber to evaluate germination percentage, seedling growth rate and emergence percentage. Experimental design was a completely random design (CRD) with four replications (runs). Standard germination tests followed Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) procedures (Association of Official Seed Analysts, 1993). Seedling dry weight was recorded following germination for 7 d on paper followed by drying 48 h at 130°F. Seedling emergence percentage, growth rate and emergence index were from soil moistened to 70% of water holding capacity in 1 qt plastic containers exposed to 45 and 68°F temperatures. Dry weight was recorded from plant material clipped at the soil surface and dried. An emergence index was calculated following Maguire (1962).

Field experiments were planted at Casselton and Prosper, ND to evaluate for field performance. Soil types were a Bearden silty clay at Casselton and Perella fine silty-Bearden silty clay complex at Prosper. The experiment was in a randomized complete block design (RBCD) with six replicates. Plots were planted at 26 seeds/sq ft with a 6-row plot drill in 12-in. row spacing. Planting dates at Casselton were 22 April, 1994; 28 April, 1995; and 13 May, 1996. Planting dates at Prosper were 6 May, 1994; 19 May, 1995; and 30 May, 1996. Soybean (Glycine max L.) was the previous crop in all environments.

Agronomic traits measured were plant stand, grain yield and test weight. Plant population was measured at the two-leaf stage as an average of two randomly selected 0.63 sq ft areas within each plot. Harvested plot area was 8 by 4 ft. The grain was dried 2 d at 100°F in a forced air drier and cleaned before measuring grain yield and test weight.

Laboratory data were subjected to analysis of variance using a CRD with treatments considered fixed effects and runs random effects. Field data were analyzed as a RCBD with treatments considered fixed effects and blocks random effects. Differences between individual means were evaluated using Fisher's Protected Least Significant Difference. Net return was calculated from average HRSW prices received by North Dakota farmers in 1994 and 1995 (USDA, 1996a) and prices received from January - October 15, 1996 (USDA, 1996b) less the cost of ACA and treatment application costs. Average HRSW prices were $3.46, $4.53 and $5.25/bu for 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. Cost of ACA was established at $0.70/ fl oz. A commercial application cost of $0.50/bu was utilized.

Results and Discussion

Laboratory Trials
Germination percentage increased with ACA applications of 3.4 and 6.8 fl oz/bu (Table 1). Seedling dry weight following the germination test was significantly greater with all ACA treatment levels. Plant emergence in warm soil was significantly increased with ACA treatments. Mean germination percentages for untreated seed were substantially reduced from normal (95%) to 81.5 and 77.5% in 1994 and 1996, respectively, due to infection with scab (Fusarium spp.). These data suggest that application of ACA was able to overcome the negative effect of disease on seed to a limited extent.

All ACA treatments emerged at a faster rate and at approximately the same percentage under warm soil conditions as in the germination test (Table 1). The increased seedling dry weight reflected the faster emergence, but only the 6.8 fl oz/bu treatment was statistically different from the check for both seedling dry weight and emergence index. These data agree with Thasanasongchan (1981 ) who found that corn and soybeans treated with acetates enhanced early plant growth.

Emergence percentage of treatments with ACA did not differ from the check when planted under cold conditions (Table 2). Fusarium is more damaging to wheat under warm conditions. Dickson (1923) reported that wheat germinated in a cool soil resists Fusarium seedling blight but when germinated in a warm soil it succumbs to the attack at a critical soil temperature of about 54°F. Seedling dry weight agrees with data from the previous experiment where treatments with ACA applied at 1.7 and 3.4 fl oz/bu had significantly more growth than the check. Similarly, the treatment with 6.8 fl oz/bu tended to have greater SDW.

Field Trials
Plant stand was significantly greater in 1994 and 1995 than 1996 (Table 3). There were no treatment differences (p<0.05) for plant stand. In the laboratory, treatment differences existed with warm soil conditions but not when cold. Soil temperatures averaged 51°F at a 4-inch depth on the date of planting, which may explain the lack of differences seen in the germination test and warm soil test. Vitavax fungicide may also have served to mitigate treatment differences.

Grain yield and test weight were significantly higher in 1996 than 1994 and 1995 (Table 3). Plant diseases, scab in particular, caused substantial reduction in grain yield and quality throughout North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota in 1994 and 1995 growing seasons (McMullen, 1996) and this effect was manifested in these trials. Scab was particularly prevalent due to excessive precipitation in 1994 and a high innoculum load carrying over into the 1995 growing season.

Analyses for treatment effects indicated that HRSW containing ACA seed treatments were all higher than the untreated check for grain yield and test weight (Table 3). These data correspond with results on corn (Thasanasongchan, 1981) when ear weight progressively decreased with delay in application of ACA from planting time.

Net return with 1.7 and 3.4 fl oz/bu rates was significantly higher than the check (Table 3). Similarly, these data indicate the economic return would favor a 1.7 fl oz/bu rate. In addition, the 1.7 oz/bu rate is approximately 1/2 the recommended rate for soil application and should gain favor with producers because less chemical is used with an associated reduction in chemical cost. Additional economic gain could be realized, if ACA could be tank-mixed with fungicide seed treatment.

These data demonstrate that wheat grain yield, test weight, and economic return can be increased with seed application of ACA. Potential fungicidal activity in warm soils is also implied by these data. Additional research is needed to determine whether ACA will enhance seed and field performance with other crop species. Rate of ACA application had no linear effect on grain yield or test weight. Therefore, these data imply that future research is needed to determine the minimum level of ACA application on seed to obtain a significant yield increase and optimum economic response under field conditions.

Conclusions/Implications of this research
Germination percentage and seedling growth rate increased significantly on paper towels with ACA applied to the seed. Emergence percentage and emergence index also increased when grown in 68^oF soil. Seedling dry weight increased with 1.7 and 3.4 fl oz/bu application rates in 45^oF soil, but emergence was not different from the check.

Grain yield increased approximately six percent with ACA treatments. Results indicated 1.7 fl oz/bu produced the highest numerical yield indicating that an optimum rate may be lower than those recommended for soil application. Net return was also increased with a $12.25/acre advantage for the 1.7 fl oz/bu rate which costs approximately $1.69/bu.

Additional /future research needs from this project
Results from this study indicated that wheat seed vigor, plant performance, and economic return can be improved with application of ACA to seed. Additional research should be conducted on additional crops and differental environmental conditions. The potential for tank-mixing ACA with fungicides also should be investigated to further reduce the cost and increase economic return.

References

Association of Official Seed Analysts. 1993. Rules for testing seeds. J. Seed Technol. 16:1-113.

Altman, D.W., W.D. McCuistion, and W.E. Kronstad. 1983. Grain protein percentage, kernel hardness, and grain yield of winter wheat with foliar applied urea. Argon. J. 75:87-91.

Dickson, J.G. 1923. Influence of soil temperature and moisture on the development of the seedling-blight of wheat and corn caused by Gibberella saubinetii. J. Agr. Res. 23 (11):837-870.

Finney, K.F., J.L.W. Meyer, F.W. Smith, and H.C. Fryer. 1957. Effect of foliar spraying of Pawnee wheat with urea solutions on yield, protein content, and protein quality. Agron. J. 49:341-345.

Maguire, J.D. 1962. Speed of germination-aid in selection and evaluation for seedling emergence and vigor. Crop Sci. 2:176-177.

McMullen, M. 1996. Recent epidemics of wheat scab: their causes and impacts. p. 29-39.

In Proc. Eighth Ann. Seed Tech. Conf., Feb. 13, 1996, Iowa St. Univ., Ames, IA.

Oplinger, E.S. 1990. 'ACA' for corn. p. 38-42. In Proceedings of the 1990 Fertilizer, Aglime & Pest Management Conference , Madison, WI.

Oplinger, E.S., D.W. Wiersma, C.R. Grau and K.A. Kelling. 1985. Intensive wheat management. Univ. of Wisconsin Ext. Bull. A3337.

Shah, S.A., S.A. Harrison, D.J. Bouquet, P.D. Colyer, and S.H. Moore. 1994. Crop ecology, production & management. Crop Sci. 34:1298-1303.

Smiley, R. and L.M. Patterson. 1995. Winter wheat yield and profitability from Dividend and Vitavax seed treatments. J. Prod. Agric. 8:350-354.

Thasanasongchan, A. 1981. The influence of acetates on growth and yield of corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). PhD Dissertation, Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA. (Diss. Abstr. 82-09182).

USDA. 1996a. North Dakota Agricultural Statistics No. 65. U.S. Gov. Print. Office, Washington, DC.

USDA. 1996b. North Dakota Farm Reporter, Issues: 2-21. U.S. Gov. Print. Office, Washington, DC.

Project Background

Author
LeRoy A. Spilde
Associate Professor
Department of Plant Sciences
North Dakota State University
spilde@badlands.nodak.edu
http://www/ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/hammond/dept

Corresponding author
LeRoy A. Spilde

Location where the reseach was done
Casselton and Prosper, ND

Funding source of the project
Grant funds provided by Ostlund Chemical Co., Fargo, ND and Agri-Growth Research, Inc. Hollandale, MN.

Links to www sites of related research findings
Vice President and Dean of Agricultural Affairs
North Dakota State University
http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu

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