Cotton Farming

No matter what brand of plant growth regulator (PGR) you use, the goal is generally the same – limit vegetative growth. In today’s farming environment, PGRs are a must, unless you want your cotton plants to be 10-feet tall in October.

The PGR market is a competitive one, and lately, a second active ingredient is added to push a particular product’s usefulness. The desired result is healthier plants – and a bigger profit margin.

Designated Functions

Louisiana crop consultant Steve Crawford likes each PGR active ingredient to have what he refers to as a “designated function.” That’s what gives a second-generation PGR value over straight mepiquat chloride.

Mepiquat chloride is the standard ingredient in PGRs, Crawford says. This chemical inhibits cell elongation, thereby reducing excessive vegetative growth.

When a second active ingredient is added to a PGR, Crawford adds, he wants it to provide additional benefits to the plant. A newer product on the market, Mepex® Gin Out™, is a good example, he adds.

The product employs the use of kinetin, a manmade version of the plant hormone cytokinin. Kinetin has several “designated functions,” such as stimulating leaf expansion and bud formation. It also delays leaf senescence, which prolongs the life of leaves.

“The leaf is the factory for the bolls, and each boll has its own subtending leaf that really feeds it,” Crawford notes. “Any product like the kinetin component that prolongs the effective life of the leaves that feed bolls will give you a greater probability to maximize your yield and quality.”

The key to the product’s success is ratio, Crawford adds. Too much kinetin overwhelms the growth-inhibiting characteristics of mepiquat chloride. Not enough kinetin won’t stimulate yield increases.

“It’s not a scattergun approach,” he says. “In each application, you have a set ratio of kinetin to mepiquat chloride.”

Testing Continues

A lot of consultants have put some faith in Mepex Gin Out based on a strong performance in 2004. But any consultant worth his salt will continue to test new products rigorously.

“We’re still testing it to see if it will hold out,” says Tennessee consultant Jay Avery. “We’re going to test it more and more this year.”

Avery, who consults on about 10,000 cotton acres around Alamo, Tenn., says he has seen a yield increase, especially when the product is applied early.

Timing is essential with PGRs, he says. But Avery adds that the window of application is certainly manageable.

“PGRs are forgiving materials most of the time if you know how to use them,” he says.

DuPont provided information for this article. Visit http://cropprotection.dupont.com for more information.

PGR Benefits Evolve With Added Ingredients

No matter what brand of plant growth regulator (PGR) you use, the goal is generally the same – limit vegetative growth. In today’s farming environment, PGRs are a must, unless you want your cotton plants to be 10-feet tall in October. The PGR market is a competitive one, and lately, a second active ingredient is added to push a particular product’s usefulness. The desired result is healthier plants – and a bigger profit margin. Designated Functions Louisiana crop consultant Steve Crawford likes each PGR active ingredient to have what he refers to as a “designated function.” That’s what gives a second-generation PGR value over straight mepiquat chloride. Mepiquat chloride is the standard ingredient in PGRs, Crawford says. This chemical inhibits cell elongation, thereby reducing excessive vegetative growth. When a second active ingredient is added to a PGR, Crawford adds, he wants it to provide additional benefits to the plant. A newer product on the market, Mepex® Gin Out™, is a good example, he adds. The product employs the use of kinetin, a manmade version of the plant hormone cytokinin. Kinetin has several “designated functions,” such as stimulating leaf expansion and bud formation. It also delays leaf senescence, which prolongs the life of leaves. “The leaf is the factory for the bolls, and each boll has its own subtending leaf that really feeds it,” Crawford notes. “Any product like the kinetin component that prolongs the effective life of the leaves that feed bolls will give you a greater probability to maximize your yield and quality.” The key to the product’s success is ratio, Crawford adds. Too much kinetin overwhelms the growth-inhibiting characteristics of mepiquat chloride. Not enough kinetin won’t stimulate yield increases. “It’s not a scattergun approach,” he says. “In each application, you have a set ratio of kinetin to mepiquat chloride.” Testing Continues A lot of consultants have put some faith in Mepex Gin Out based on a strong performance in 2004. But any consultant worth his salt will continue to test new products rigorously. “We’re still testing it to see if it will hold out,” says Tennessee consultant Jay Avery. “We’re going to test it more and more this year.” Avery, who consults on about 10,000 cotton acres around Alamo, Tenn., says he has seen a yield increase, especially when the product is applied early. Timing is essential with PGRs, he says. But Avery adds that the window of application is certainly manageable. “PGRs are forgiving materials most of the time if you know how to use them,” he says. DuPont provided information for this article. Visit http://cropprotection.dupont.com for more information.

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