Delta Smart Systems: Enhancing Cotton Yields and Efficiency in Ouachita Fertilizer Practices

1. Cotton 2005 Ouachita Fertilizer Central

2. Ouachita Commitment to you • Increase yields • Lower Costs / Unit Produced • Help solve specific production problems that limit profitability Value Offering • Consistency and Reliability • Cost effectiveness • Leveraged Investment

3. Delta Smart Systems What is DSS? • A precise data-gathering system collected to improve grower profitability • Records production practices used on the farm • Uses on-board computers to capture yield data • Uses USDA grading standards to measure impact on quality • Utilizes a large data base Community to analyze data • Confidential

4. Delta Smart Systems What is DSS? • More than just a database • Ties together all production data with local weather station data • Ties together all production data with field observations and samples

5. Delta Smart Systems Ouachita Fertilizer’s method of introducing the new science of crop phenology Translation: Understanding how weather impacts crop production practices

6. Delta Smart Systems • Utilizes technology to reach higher yields and lower grower’s cost per unit • Increases crop uniformity, the key to higher yields • Helps predict Quality grades for targeted markets • Helps avoid repeated mistakes: continuous improvement

7. Cotton Acres in Louisiana From 2002 to 2003, about 34% of all cotton acres were irrigated. (USDA)

8. Cotton Yields: Lbs. Per Acre

9. Regional Analysis • Split DSS data into three regions • To customize recommendations • To provide local solutions • Identify and remove limiting factors to yield and quality

10. DSS in 2004 • 15,000 acres in 2004 • 50 plant tissue samples • 250 field observations • Two satellite weather stations

11. Plant Analysis • Tool for in-season use to determine and manage plant nutrient levels and ratios • Some elements can be corrected in-season with Foliar Applications

12. Value Offering • Enables growers to identify nutrients that limit yields or quality: improve plant health • Allows deficiencies or imbalances to be corrected in-season to increase profits. • Helps avoid the application of excessive rates and unnecessary nutrient applications are avoided.

13. Disease Protection* • Balanced nutrients have proven to reduce disease pressure in cotton: • Verticillium • Pythium, fusarium, root rot and nematodes *Management of Diseases with Macro- and Microelements, APS Press, 1993

14. Early Bloom Plant Tissue Average Cotton Plant Analysis 2004

15. Early Bloom Plant Tissue • Central: 23 samples • 49% low in P • 50% low or deficient in K • 52% low or deficient in Zn • 35% low in sulfur

16. Late Bloom Plant Tissue Cotton Plant Analysis 2004

17. Late Bloom Plant Tissue • Central: 29 samples • 52% low or deficient in K • 55% had K/Mn ratios out of Balance; this means the K levels are too low The expected ratio is 300 ppmK to 1ppm Mn. Our average was 156 ppm K to 1ppm Mn.

18. DSS in 2004: Central • Plant tissue samples showed that 50% or more of the samples tested low in K. • In our Community 80 lbs/A of K improved cotton yields by 100 lbs/A in 2004. • An investment of $20.00 in Potassium returned $50.00

19. DSS in 2004: Central Other Results from our Community: Phosphate: 45 lbs./ A yields 120lbs. more cotton than 0 lbs. An investment of $15.00 in Phosphate returned $60.00 in income

20. DSS in 2004: Central Sulfur in our Community • 10 lbs. /A of sulfur increased cotton weight by 188lbs./acre. • An investment of $6.00 in Sulfur returned $90.00

21. Sulfur on Cotton • Required on sandy soils or soils with low organic matter • Sulfur deficiencies look much like nitrogen deficiencies, pale-green leaves on the upper part of the plant. • Sulfur deficiency appears on new growth

22. DSS in 2004: Central • Zinc: The single largest increase in yield with one management change was the 90 lb. increase with 2 lbs. of zinc per acre. • An investment of $1.30 in Zinc returned $45.00

23. Zinc Problems in Cotton • Laser leveling, high copper, iron and manganese concentrations • Highly alkaline soils • Low VAM* levels • Cool wet periods which affect root movement *VAM-Vascular Microorganisms

24. Plant Tissue Summary Early Bloom: % Sample Testing Low or Deficient • Explains good responses to Zn, K, S and P in Central. Central

25. Plant Tissue Summary • Potash levels are a problem in the Central area. Late Bloom: % Samples Testing Low or Deficient Central

26. Cotton Fertility 2005 Banded Application Central (lbs. / acre)

27. Results from DSS: Central Varieties: top three varieties • Paymaster 1218 BGRR • Sure Grow 215BGRR • DP 449 BGRR IST • Gaucho and Cruiser were equal Other Varieties that did well in other Regions of the State were: *DPL 5415 RR *DPL 555 BGRR *Stoneville 55999 BGRR

28. Planting Date 2004: Central • Plant when weather accumulates 25 GDU the five days after planting. (forecasts)

29. Planting Date 2004: Central Need 25 heat units cumulative within five days after planting to plant cotton. GDUs Accumulation D. Lee 2004 GDU’s GDUs Date

30. Results from DSS: Central Population • 40,000 planted seeds per acre gave the highest yields in this Region. • For all of Louisiana 45,000 planted seed gave the highest yield.

31. DSS Summary • 15,000 acres in 2004 • 60 plant tissue samples • 250 field observations • Two satellite weather stations • DSS split LA cotton into three distinct areas to better understand profitable cotton production

32. DSS Summary • Cotton seeding rates performed best at 40,000 seeds per acre in 2004. • Using weather stations to forecast 25 GDU accumulations the first five days after planting is an effective tool to use as a planting guide. • We have weather stations running now and can have the information sent to you.

33. Cotton Schedule of Events