Objective 2:   Develop and evaluate instrumentation and software to measure and analyze variability in crop production and plant response to that variability.

Leaf nitrogen content was estimated using a chlorophyll (SPAD) meter to measure the concentration of chlorophyll in the leaves.  Results from comparison of Dr. Chilcutt's chlorophyll (SPAD) meter readings and Dr.;s Li and Lascano nitrogen analysis indicate that SPAD measurements were not a good indicator of cotton plant nitrogen content.  Also, mean SPAD readings were similar for the 3 nitrogen fertilizer levels, with no significant differences between levels.  However, SPAD readings did vary significantly with time.  After an initial decrease in SPAD readings from June to July, SPAD readings increased steadily from July to September.  Finally, SPAD readings were not correlated with yield or with insect densities or insect damage to cotton squares or bolls, indicating that the SPAD meter is not a useful instrument for measuring crop variability or insect variability in cotton.

C.     Education/technology transfer:

• Versions 2.0 and 3.0 Scout Master for Cotton were developed and Beta Version 3.0 which includes additional graphics and data management options, and a GIS data import option was released in 1998. 
• Version 1.0 Scout Master for Corn, which integrates the majority of the features found in the cotton program, plus a weed management option, was demonstrated at the October Texas IPM Technical Advisory Committee meeting

D.     Milestones achieved:

-         Release of Scout Master 3.0 for cotton, and completion of Scout Master 1.0 for corn. 

-         Description of the effects of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer levels on insect pest densities and insect damage to cotton, and specifically how they affect heliothine damage to cotton.

E.     Publications:

-         Wilson, L. T., R. L. Huffman, T. W. Fuchs, and B. A. Baugh. 1998. Version 2.0 Scout Master for Cotton

-         Wilson, L. T., R. L. Huffman, T. W. Fuchs, and B. A. Baugh. 1998. Version 3.0 Scout Master for Cotton

-         Wilson, L. T., R. L. Huffman, T. W. Fuchs, and B. A. Baugh. 1998. Version 1.0 Scout Master for Corn

F.      Precision agriculture proposals submitted or funded:

-         Huffman, Wilson, 1998-2000. Development of a geo-referenced component for Scout Master for Cotton, and development of Scout Master for Corn. TPMA. $40,000 (funded).

-         Wilson, 1998-2000. Scout Master for Cotton. TPMA. $25,000 (funded).

-         Wilson, Fuchs, 1998-2000. Development of a database component for Scout Master for Cotton. TDA. $25,000 (funded).

-         Wilson, Norman, et al. 1998-1999. Incorporating voice recognition, insect thresholds, and weed monitoring into Scout Master for Cotton. TPMA. $41,000 (not funded).

-         Wilson, Fuchs, 1998-2000. Scout Master for Cotton. TDA. $20,000 (not funded)

-         Wilson, Fuchs, et al. 1999-2000. A multidisciplinary approach to integrating multiple species thresholds into a holistic cotton management system. Southern Region IPM. $60,000 (not funded)

G.    Precision Agriculture meetings attended/papers (posters) presented:

-         Wilson, Member, USDA/NRI Agricultural Systems Panel, 1997-1998.

-         Wilson, Panel Manager, USDA/NRI Agricultural Systems Panel, 1998-1999.

-         Wilson, Scout Master for Corn demonstration, Texas IPM Technical Advisory Committee meeting, October 1998.

H.     Other developments

None

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