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The overall goal of this proposed project is to develop and test concepts and technologies for site-specific detection and control of plant-parasitic nematodes with the aim of optimizing farm profit while minimizing the effect of production practices on the environment. <P>Specific project objectives and anticipated outcomes are<OL> <LI>To determine the economic and environmental impact of the site-specific nematicide placement (SNP) program on farming systems in the Southeast and Mid-South. Outcome: optimizing farm profit while minimizing the effect of production practices on the environment will make the SNP system more attractive to cotton & soybeans growers;<LI>To define and quantify the significant environmental and edaphic factors that impact or regulate the spatial relationships, population dynamics and survival of reniform nematodes in cotton fields in the southern and southeastern USA and to expand the SNP system to include the reniform nematodes as well as root-knot and Columbia lance nematodes. Outcome: Knowledge of the nematode occurrence and distribution will provide a foundation on which site-specific nematicide placement may be most efficiently extended to include reniform nematodes; <LI>To implement an aggressive training program for producers, county agents, crop advisors and consultants, and technology providers and dealers utilizing "prototype fields" and mobile training laboratories to directly teach the SNP system to interested individuals. Outcome: Outreach efforts will result in an improved stakeholder understanding of advanced detection techniques for site-specific nematode management. Adoption and use of new methodology and technology will result in reduced insecticide use, improved environmental quality, and improved grower sustainability; <LI>To incorporate the fundamentals of SNP technology into the Precision Agriculture & Nematode-Management courses offered to undergraduate & graduate students. Outcome: Training the next generation of scientists and educators who will work to solve the problem related to pest management area.
Non-Technical Summary: Nematodes cause over $300 million in yield losses annually to U.S. cotton. Farmers usually apply one rate of a nematicide across a field to control nematodes. However, nematodes are not uniformly distributed within fields, and there may be substantial acreages in most fields where nematodes are either not present, or are not an economic concern. Applying a nematicide uniformly over a field can be costly and environmentally questionable. The objective of this work is to develop and test concepts and technologies for nematode control which optimizes farm profits while minimizing environmental impacts. By providing producers with a means of limiting nematicide applications to where they are needed within a field the site-specific nematicide placement (SNP) program developed here will help accomplish this goal. The SNP system can reduce nematicide usage more than 75% compared to uniform-rate applications while still enhancing crop yields. This multi-state, multi-institutional, and multi-disciplinary project will document the economic and environmental impact of the SNP program on farming systems in the Southeast and mid-South; expand the SNP system to include reniform nematode; establish permanent training centers in each state to provide a place for new technology to be tested and showcased; implement an aggressive training program to create crop consultants, county agents and equipment dealers whose expertise in Precision Agriculture/SNP systems will benefit growers beyond the geographic and time limitations of this project; and incorporate the fundamentals of SNP technology into undergraduate and graduate courses. The SNP technology could be used for controlling nematodes in many crops. <P> Approach: This project will conduct economic analyses to determine the profitability of the SNP program and will document reduction in pesticides use and their adverse impact on ground water. The significant environmental and edaphic factors that impact or regulate the spatial relationships, population dynamics and survival of reniform nematodes (RN) in cotton fields in the southern and southeastern USA will be defined and quantified to determine if the site-specific nematicide placement (SNP) system is appropriate for managing RN in the same manner as with the southern root-knot nematode (SRKN) and the Columbia lance nematode (CLN). Outreach will rely upon traditional and new methodology. Program P.I.s and cooperators with CES appointments currently maintain comprehensive information and training networks. Outreach tools will be selected according to stakeholder needs and nematode management knowledge. All useful information emanating from the research objectives will be melded into the outreach repertoire. Courses in Precision Agriculture and fundamentals of Plant Pathology are taught at the undergraduate and graduate level at Clemson University, the University of Arkansas, and the Louisiana State University. The fundamentals of site-specific nematicide placement technology will be incorporated into these courses. These courses will prepare students to develop and interpret precision farming databases, including site-specific nematode management. Academic audiences will be reached via articles in peer reviewed journals, professional meetings, and web pages.