Conservation Tillage and Cover Crop Influences on Cotton Production on a Southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain Soil

Abstract

Understanding cover crop and tillage system interactions within specific environments can help maximize productivity and economic returns of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) produced on sandy coastal plain soils of the southeastern USA. A strip-plot design with three replications was used to evaluate the cover crops Austrian winter pea [Pisum sativum L. ssp. arvense (L.)], balansa clover (Trifolium michelianum Savi), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth subsp. villosa), oil seed radish (Raphanus sativus L.), black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.), and rye (Secale cereale L.) and tillage (strip and none) influences on cotton grown on a Bonifay fine sand (loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Grossarenic Plinthic Paleudults) near Waynesboro, GA from 1999 to 2003. Drought influenced production 3 of 4 yr. Cover crop biomass was greatest from rye, intermediate from black oat, oilseed radish, hairy vetch, and Austrian winter pea. Hairy vetch and Austrian winter pea contained more than 80 kg N ha 21 while other cover crops averaged ,40 kg N ha 21 . Cotton yields following black oat and rye had returns above variable costs ha 21 $461 and $406, respectively. Strip-tillage increased yields by 192 kg ha 21 and annual returns by $112 ha 21 over no-tillage, most likely due to improved available water. Combining strip-tillage with black oat was the best combination for maximizing profit. Using black oat with strip-tillage could increase cotton profit by $50 to $75 ha 21 compared to systems using rye on the 1.45 million ha of cotton where conservation systems have been adopted.

Winter Cover Crops and Vinegar for Early-Season Weed Control in Sustainable Cotton

“…The beneficial effects of black oats on the soil (Bauer and Reeves, 1999) and modestly reduced Palmer amaranth seedling occurrence, cover and density in former BO plots, may have allowed cotton in former BO plots to develop and expand leaves more rapidly than did cotton in former HV and NC plots, without influencing seedling height. In tests in the state of Georgia, black oats enhanced early-season cotton height more than did hairy vetch or five other cover crops (Schomberg et al, 2006). Hairy vetch can enhance cotton height either with or without residue incorporation (Boquet et al, 2004), but hairy vetch plots in this study had higher winter weed cover than black oats plots and possibly enhanced weed seed production.…”

“…Height and number of leaves in field cotton, Palmer amaranth, purslane, and sunflower seedlings 10, 16, 23, and 30 days after emergence, and mortality after vinegar application. * combination with strip tillage and limited herbicide use at planting maximized cotton yield and economic returns (Schomberg et al, 2006). The sustainable weed control system used in this study did not negatively affect cotton yield.…”

“…Cover crops also improve soil composition; conserve soil carbon, nitrogen, and moisture content; and enhance microbial activity (Hoffman and Regnier 2006;Yenish et al 1996), leading to increases in the growth and yield of cotton (Bauer and Reeves, 1999;Sainju et al, 2005) and other crops (Burgos et al, 2006;Fisk et al, 2001;Nagabhushana et al, 2001). Questions remain about the benefits of live versus killed covers in no-till crop production (Teasdale and Daughtry, 1993) and the importance of soil incorporation of residue (Mohler, 2001b;Schomberg et al, 2006). This study examined the effects of black oat and hairy vetch winter covers on winter and spring weeds in the LRGV of Texas, in the context of a sustainable weed, pest, and soil management system for cotton.…”

Utilizing cover crop mulches to reduce tillage in organic systems in the southeastern USA

“…This level of biomass residue was likely insufficient to suppress weeds and likely degraded rapidly. Rye monocultures produce more biomass than other cover crops in Alabama 35 , Georgia 36 and North Carolina 34 . Legume monocultures generally do not achieve that level of productivity in the southeastern USA 34 (Fig.…”

Simulated Soil Organic Carbon Responses to Crop Rotation, Tillage, and Climate Change in North Dakota

“…This is contrary to many other field studies that have reported greater crop production and biomass additions with reduced tillage (Torbert et al, 2001; Sainju et al, 2007; Bono et al, 2008). There have been some studies that reported similar (Schomberg et al, 2006; Sainju et al, 2010) or less biomass production (Minoshima et al, 2006; Machado, 2011) with reduced tillage. The impact of reduced tillage on crop production must be considered in regard to the effect on SOC, since biomass inputs are a critical factor in SOC stocks.…”