Seed-Specific Placement of In-furrow Chemicals
Seedling disease is a major concern for cotton producers, resulting in yield losses exceeding $1.5 billion between 1992 and 1998.  Tennessee producers are particularly susceptible to the disease due to the area’s climate and tillage practices.  In 1997, seedling disease claimed 9.5% of Tennessee’s cotton crop, while the nationwide average loss was 3.5%.

Many Tennessee producers apply fungicides as in-furrow sprays during planting to protect against seedling disease.  These fungicides are usually applied as a continuous spray band along the length of the furrow.  However, information about how fungicides protect seedlings suggests that fungicide applied between seeds is wasted.  Eliminating this wasted spray and treating only the seeds could reduce the cost of liquid fungicide treatment significantly.

A seed-specific application system – which delivers a discrete volume of fungicide to each seed and the adjacent soil – has been developed at The University of Tennessee Sensors and Controls Laboratory.  Using the  seed-specific applicator, seeds are sprayed with a pulse of chemical as they land in the furrow, immediately before the furrow is closed.

In Spring 2002, cotton plots at the West Tennessee Experiment Station were inoculated with Pythium and Rhizoctonia at planting.  Seed-specific placement of in-furrow fungicides (using the seed-specific applicator)  reduced chemical inputs by 50%, while providing seedling disease protection equivalent to the conventional, continuous application method. Additional tests were conducted at the Milan Experiment Station to evaluate seed-specific applicator accuracy across a range of planting conditions.  At planting speeds of 2, 4, and 6 mph, over 80% of seeds were adequately sprayed using a spray-band two inches in length (assuming proper calibration).  Additional tests are needed with other in-furrow inputs (insecticides, etc.) and other crops to explore the full potential of seed-specific application. 

Engineering research projects such as this one share a common goal – providing producers with new technologies to enhance profitability and resource stewardship.

Applicator in action in the field (150kB)

Publications:

Hancock, J.H., J.B. Wilkerson, F.H. Moody, W.E. Hart and M.A. Newman.  2003.  Seed-specific placement of in-furrow chemicals.  ASAE Paper No. 03-1155.  St. Joseph, Mich.:  ASAE.  

Hancock, J.H. 2003.  Design and evaluation of a seed-specific applicator for in-furrow chemical application.  M.S. Thesis, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.

Hancock, J.H., J.B. Wilkerson, F.H. Moody, and M.A. Newman.  2003.  Seed-specific placement of in-furrow crop protectants.  In Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf.  Nashville, Tenn.  6-10 January.  Memphis, Tenn.:  National Cotton Council.  In Press.

Reed, J.  2002.  Cut at-planting costs by treating one seed at a time.  Cotton Farming, November: 12-14.  Lincolnshire, Ill.:  Vance Publishing.

Robinson, E.  2003.  Seed-specific fungicide spraying.  Delta Farm Press.  May 23:  1,3.  Bellevue, NE:  PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media Inc.
Industry Partner:
Cotton Incorporated
For more information about this project, please contact:

John Wilkerson, Ph.D.
The University of Tennessee

2506 E. J. Chapman Drive
Knoxville, TN  37996-4531
PHONE:  (865) 974-7266
wilkerj@utk.edu