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Potential of Cotton Transplants and Rhizobacteria to Shorten the Growing Season

N.W.Greer, K.S. McLean and J.W. Kloepper


ABSTRACT

Field tests in northern and central Alabama were conducted to assess cotton transplants with and without plant growth- promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) with the objective of extending the northern range of the cotton producing area. Transplants were prepared using PayMaster 1218 BG/RR cotton seed grown in styrofoam trays with an individual cavity size of 3.2 x 3.2cm containing a volume of 35cc. A commercial preparation, BioYieldJ, which contains Paenobacillus subtilis strain GBO3 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain IN937a was added into the soil-less medium prior to planting in some treatments. Three and four week old seedlings were manually transplanted into two fields. Stand counts, mapping data, and harvest data were collected. Data indicate that cotton transplants matured earlier than direct seeding and that the addition of PGPR in the transplant system further enhanced maturity. These results indicate that transplanted cotton has the potential for an earlier harvest. More research needs to be done to find the full potential of this transplanting system and specifically to optimize transplant age and density in the field.





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Document last modified May 20, 2002