The Crop Production project at the University of Missouri-Delta Center conducts research to develop profitable crop production systems for farmers. The project leader is Dr. Gene Stevens. Primary emphasis is finding methods to increase crop yields and decrease input costs. The Delta Center is located in the upper Mississippi River Delta region. Field experiments are conducted with rice, cotton, soybean, corn, sorghum, and wheat. The Crop Production project is part of the Commercial Agriculture Crop Team. Information from other projects at the Delta Center can be found at these links: plant pathology, weed science, soybean breeding, variety testing, irrigation and weather.
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Recent Publications

Stevens, G., A. Wrather, E. Vories, M. Rhine, and D. Dunn. 2007. Predicting rice yield response to midseason nitrogen with plant area measurements. Agronomy Journal. In press.

Stevens, G., D. Dunn, and S. Hefner. 2007. Building soil potassium and phosphorus in a low-testing fescue field. Better Crops with Plant Food. Inter. Plant Nut. Inst. 91, No. 4, pg 20-21 .

Dunn, D., and G. Stevens. 2007. Phosphorus management in a dry-seeded delayed-flood rice production system. Better Crops with Plant Food. Inter. Plant Nut. Inst. 91, No. 1, pg 20-21.  http://www.potafos.org/ppiweb/bcrops.nsf/$webindex/01FB893176AC938F8525727600795BDA/$file/07-1p20.pdf

Stevens, G., A. Sheckell, E. Vories, M. Mulesky, M. Rhine, and D. Dunn. 2007. Irrigation to maximize vaccine production in pharmaceutical tobacco. Agronomy Journal 99:1271-1277. http://agron.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/99/5/1271  

Aide, M., C. Aide, D. Dunn, and G. Stevens. 2006. Fragipan genesis in the eastern Ozarks of Missouri. Soil Science. 171(6):483-491.

Horner, J., T. Richard, G. Stevens, and T. Thomas. 2006. Report of Group II on organization and assessment of potential technologies at Pyeongtaek City, Korea. University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. 15 November.  

Rhine, M, G. Stevens, and D. Dunn. 2006. Rice seeding rates and yield response to midseason nitrogen. pg. 173. (M. Salassi ed.) In Proc. Thirty-first Rice Tech Working Group. Agric. Exp. Stations of Ark, Cal, Fl, Louis, Miss, Mo, and Tx Woodlands, TX. 26 February – 1 March.  

Stevens, G, D. Dunn, A. Wrather, B. Ottis, and D. Beighley. 2006. Yardstick method of assessing rice midseason nitrogen. pg. 174. (M. Salassi ed.) In Proc. Thirty-first Rice Tech Working Group. Agric. Exp. Stations of Ark, Cal, Fl, Louis, Miss, Mo, and Tx. Woodlands, TX. 26 February – 1 March.  

Dunn, D.J., B. Ottis, A. Wrather, W. Stevens, D. Beighley, and M. Aide. 2006. Can we predict rice yields using spectral reflectance at midseason. pg. 146-147 (M. Salassi ed.) In Proc. Thirty-first Rice Tech Working Group. Agric. Exp. Stations of Ark, Cal, Fl, Louis, Miss, Mo, and Tx Woodlands, TX. 26 February – 1 March.  

Dunn, D.J., and W. E. Stevens. 2006. Polymer fertilizer coatings: can they increase phosphorus efficiency in rice? pg. 168. (M. Salassi ed.) In Proc. Thirty-first Rice Tech Working Group. Agric. Exp. Stations of Ark, Cal, Fl, Louis, Miss, Mo, and Tx Woodlands, TX. 26 February – 1 March.  

Stevens, W., E. Vories, D. Dunn, and M. Rhine. 2006. Irrigation for vaccine antigen production in pharmaceutical tobacco. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings. Paper # 25438. Indianapolis, IN. 12-16 Nov.  

Nelson, K., B. Burdick, P. Scharf, and G. Stevens. 2006. Rescue nitrogen applications for corn. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings. Paper # 24707. Indianapolis, IN. 12-16 Nov.  

Stevens, G., and D. Dunn. 2006. Soil fertility research at the University of Missouri-Delta Center pg. 42-59 (C. Synder and R. Large, eds.) In Proc. Southern Plant Nutrient Management Conf. Olive Branch, Mississippi, 3-4 October. 

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The Mississippi River Delta region begins at Cape Girardeau, Missouri and stretches south 650 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. The soils are productive for crop production and an abundant alluvial aquifer in SE Missouri is often used for irrigation. READ MORE
Combine
In the Mid-South, rice N fertilization is often split between preflood and midseason applications. New methods of predicting rice yield response to midseason N were tested in Missouri. READ MORE
Sensor cotton

Light sensors measuring cotton leaf reflectance are being calibrated for predicting cotton response to side-dress nitrogen at mid-square and early bloom.   READ MORE

Poor weather can delay cotton planting and reduce stands. Field tests studied cotton yields as affected by late planting and low plant populations. READ MORE
Rice Nitrogen Management
On-the-Go Cotton Nitrogen Sensors
Bioenergy Cropping Systems
Cotton planting dates
sweet sorghum
Liming and Soil pH
Crop Management Software
Sweet sorghum and corn are being compared for ethanol yield and N response. High fermentable starch corn varieties are also being tested. READ MORE
Selected Topics in Cropping Systems, Plant Nutrition, and Soil and Water
seedlings
Proper soil pH is the cornerstone of a good crop production fertility program. Field tests were conducted evaluating different types of liming materials on acid soils. READ MORE

Programs using Excel spreadsheet are available. Nitromax-optimize nitrogen rates for current prices.Cotton Replant Decison- aids in replant planning. Calibration- helps perform equipment adjustments for applying crop inputs.

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Last Update: February 11, 2008
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