Microp®: A Microscopic Cover Crop Effects on Upper Delta Cotton Yields and Soil Compaction

Jim Schaefer


 
ABSTRACT

With regard to soil aggregation and stability, microbial polysaccharides are important components of the organic soil chemistry. Certain microalgae are know producers of relatively large amounts of extracellular polysaccharides. Compaction data from 40 on-farm test sites was collected to estimate the effect that a microalgae soil inoculation or seeding would have on soil structure. Cotton yields were estimated for on-farm test sites from 30 sites where soils were seeded with microalgae. At the two and four inch depths the treatment effects averaged 34% and 21% less compaction respectively. Yield estimates on the cotton sites averaged 115.1 pounds more lint cotton for the treatment.



Reprinted from Proceedings of the 1988: Beltwide Cotton Production Conference pp. 104 - 106
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

[Main TOC] | [TOC] | [TOC by Section] | [Search] | [Help]
Previous Page [Previous]
 
Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998