A study was conducted in 1981-82 to determine the feasibility of double cropping cotton and corn within the same growing season (330-frost free days). A randomized complete block design with four replications of three different cotton and corn row planting configurations was used. Shortseason cotton cultivar, GP-3773, was planted in 102-cm single drill, 69-cm single drill, and in four 25-cm drills on a 203-cm wide bed configuration.

Fall corn, cultivar Continental 5450, was planted in a split-plot design with the cotton row configurations as the main plots and N levels as the subplots. A minimum tillage technique was used to plant the corn directly in the old cotton rows of the 102- and 69-cm drill configurations immediately after the cotton stalks were shredded. Three drills of corn were planted between the four cotton drills on the 203-cm wide beds after shredding the cotton stalks. Nitrogen was applied to the corn at the rates of 0, 90, 180, and 269 kg of N/acre.

The average lint cotton yield in 1981 for all row configurations was 895 kg/ha. In 1982, lint cotton yields were significantly different for row spacing with 69-cm row configurations having significantly greater yields than the 203-cm wide bed configuration. Cotton lint yields for 1982 were 785, 704, and 622 kg/ha, for 69-cm, 102-cm, and 203-cm planting configurations, respectively. Residual N from the (1981) fall N applications to corn significantly affected the following 1982 cotton yields. Lint cotton yields were 600, 569, 691, and 865 kg/ha following corn that received 0, 90, 180, and 269 kg/ha of N, respectively. Corn grain yields (1981) were significantly increased by N applications. Corn yields (1981) ranged from 2936 kg/ha (check) to 5450 kg/ha for 260 kg/ha N plots. Row configuration also significantly affected corn yields (1981). Grain production on 69-cm row configuration was 5274 kg/ha as compared with 4366 and 4036 kg/ha for 102-cm and 203-cm row configurations, respectively.