Arkansas producer Jonathan Bobbitt says he increased cotton yields by 125 pounds/A and saved time without needing nematicide applications by planting PhytoGen® brand varieties with root-knot and reniform nematode resistance.
Like many farmers, Jonathan Bobbitt continually looks for ways he can save time and streamline his operation. He’s open to new ideas, especially if they can make cotton management easier and improve yield potential.
That curiosity led him to try PhytoGen® brand varieties with built-in nematode resistance and ultimately helped him produce higher yields on his farm near Lake City, Arkansas.
“We have some nematode problems, and we wanted to try something different instead of in-furrow nematicides,” Bobbitt said. “It takes time to put out nematicides at planting, and we were looking for a way to save time and make things simpler. My neighbor kept telling me how good PhytoGen yielded for him, so we decided to plant 200 acres, mostly PHY 411 W3FE.”
One reason Bobbitt chose PhytoGen® brand PHY 411 W3FE is because of its built-in resistance to both root-knot and reniform nematodes. Throughout the season, Bobbitt noticed a marked difference in the field planted to PhytoGen, compared to the last time it was in cotton. The plants were healthy and vigorous throughout the season but easily managed with PGR applications.
“The PhytoGen cotton was planted in a field with a big sandy hole, and in years past, the cotton in that field showed a lot of stress from nematodes,” Bobbitt said. “The PhytoGen variety looked healthier and didn’t show any signs of stress. We didn’t see any damage from nematodes. It grew consistently all year long and looked really good.”
Bobbitt said root-knot and reniform nematodes damage cotton roots and limit the plant’s ability to get the water it needs, especially in sandier soils. When nematodes are above thresholds, resistant varieties, like PhytoGen, pay big dividends above ground when plants begin putting on bolls.
“If you protect the roots from nematodes, the roots are healthier and can travel further to get the moisture and nutrients the plant needs,” Bobbitt said. “That makes a difference when cotton starts to fruit up.”
As PHY 411 W3FE began fruiting, Bobbitt was amazed at the difference the nematode resistance made in plant health and fruit load. After defoliation, he was excited to get the picker in the field and had high hopes going into harvest.
“PHY 411 W3FE started stacking on bolls like a Christmas tree – there were a lot of bolls,” Bobbitt said. “At the end of the season, when we got the leaves off, it looked impressive from the picker.”
His gin receipts confirmed that view from the picker: it yielded 1,475 pounds/A, 125 pounds more than the last time the field was planted to cotton. Bobbitt said the turnout was 2.5% better than competitive varieties. PHY 411 W3FE has demonstrated consistent performance on farms and in third-party trials across the Cotton Belt, due to its high-end yield potential and nematode resistance.
While the nematicide savings and yield increase helped his bottom line, Bobbitt said the built-in nematode resistance provided something equally as important – less worry and a good night’s sleep.
“The in-seed protection offers peace of mind. You get to go to bed at night, and you don’t wake up staring at the ceiling, wondering if your cotton is being eaten up by nematodes,” Bobbitt said. “We’re going to have more PhytoGen cotton next year and keep growing it to see what else it can do.”
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Find information on yield and more in the PhytoGen Cottonseed Agronomy Library.
