Defoliation products detailed at cotton field day

By JULIET BRISKIN | Central Texas Edition

August 30, 2001 -- Just west of West on Jerry Gerik's farm is a field full of cotton plants in various stages of defoliation. The field is serving as a test plot for various defoliants and dessicants and on Aug. 21, the Hill County Extension office hosted a field day there.

Participants were treated to a walking tour of the plots and chemical company representatives discussed their individual products.

According to Brenton Byers, an Aventis representative, "you need to mix mentholated seed oil with the defoliant Dropp at any rate you put out. It does not do well alone."

Hap Hazzard, with Bayer, was on hand to describe what was happening in some of the plots.

"The standard treatments here in Hill County for quite some time have been the Def Dropp treatments. Dropp works better on the smaller year-growth up on top, while the Def is going to work better on the older growth," he said. "During a hot, hot dry year like this a lower rate of Def will do a little bit better job."

According to Hazzard, "You need to use a non-ionic surfactant. The seeds do the best job with the Dropp/Def/NIS combination."

The following plot consisted of a Dropp/Prep/NIS combination and Byers stated that "like the Dropp/Def/NIS treatment, this is an oldie but goody for this area. It has always worked well in these conditions."

"Another treatment we like to look at," Byers related, "is Dropp with Ginstar. The Ginstar heats the Dropp up and does better in preventing re-growth and is a great defoliant and dessicant."

Todd Oliver, with Delta Pine and Land, discussed seed blocks and, in particular, AIM.

"I've had people calling me (and) asking me about using AIM on seed blocks because the label is so new," he said, "and we are unsure of what it will do to seed quality; we are telling everybody not to use AIM in any seed block."

According to Oliver, they are in the process of determining if AIM hurts the seed or not. Until then, he does suggest using AIM on seed block.

Marty Jungman, Texas Cooperative Extension agent, said the purpose of the program "was to look at some of the treatments we've used in the past and some new materials." According to him it is important for cotton producers to know what products will work best for them.