ABSTRACT

Low prices and high production costs have led cotton producers to search for methods to increase the profit margin. Skip-row cotton has received much attention of late as a possible avenue to achieve this goal. In 2001 and 2002, 2x1 and 4x1 skip-row patterns were examined in East Georgia. Yields and Net Returns, using a partial budget analysis, were calculated for these patterns compared to conventionally planted cotton. Cotton yields were generally reduced with skip-row, and the reduction in yield was greater in higher yielding environments. In relation to conventionally planted cotton, Net Returns with skip-row cotton tend to increase in lower yielding environments and decrease in higher yielding environments. It must be considered, however, that the partial budget analysis was extremely conservative and left out many savings opportunities that could be attained in certain situations.