ABSTRACT

A four-year study comparing standard tillage with (STCC) and without (STNO) winter rye/triticale/vetch cover crops and conservation tillage with (CTCC) and without (CTNO) cover crops was conducted in Five Points, CA through a cotton/tomato rotation from 1999 – 2003. In each year of the study, the cotton was no-till planted into previous crop residue ± cover crop residue in the CT systems. A mite outbreak in the first year severely reduced yields in all systems. In years 2 – 4, yields were reduced an average of 5.4% in the STCC, 12.7% in the CTNO system, and 20.2% in the CTCC system relative to the standard tillage no cover crop system. Major difficulties contributing to these yield losses included an inability to establish adequate crop stands and early season vigor in the alternative systems.