Use of a Liquid Fertilizer (AgraLi) to Reduce Rotylenchulus Reniformis Population Density and Increase Cotton Yields

The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of AgraLi on the population density of Rotylenchulus reniformis and subsequent effects on cotton yield.  AgraLi is a by-product obtained from the process of making the chicken feed additive methionine and has a nutrient analysis of 2-0-13 (N-P-K).  Tests included comparisons of the AgraLi with a commonly used fertilizer, nematicide, and fertilizer-nematicide combinations.  Tests compared an untreated control, AgraLi, ammonium polyphosphate, fluopyram + imidacloprid (Velum Total), AgraLi + Velum Total, and ammonium polyphosphate + Velum Total.  Evaluations were conducted in the greenhouse and field settings during 2017 and 2018 using PhytoGen 487WRF cotton as a host plant.  Greenhouse and field tests found that all treatments which included the nematicide Velum Total significantly (P ≤ 0.1) reduced the number of R. reniformis eggs/g of root when compared to the standard fertilizer, ammonium polyphosphate.  Treatments of AgraLi in a field setting reduced R. reniformis eggs/g of root by 78% when compared to the untreated control, indicating that the product may have an effect on R. reniformis population density. Field testing also indicated that the application of AgraLi + Velum Total resulted in significantly (P ≤ 0.1) larger plants, measured by plant height and total plant biomass. This combination treatment of AgraLi + Velum Total also increased seed cotton yields over the untreated control and Velum Total alone.  When AgraLi and Velum Total were applied in combination, a yield increase of 1,491 kg/ha was observed over the untreated control and a yield increase of 417 kg/ha was observed over Velum Total alone in 2017.