Optimizing Profitability in Cotton Production with Conservation Tillage

J.W. Keeling and J.R. Abernathy


 
ABSTRACT

Experiments were conducted in 1986 through 1988 to evaluate effects of conservation tillage cropping systems on cotton growth, yield and profitability at three locations on the Texas Southern High Plains. Systems evaluated included conventional, reduced and no-till systems for continuous cotton, and conservation tillage rotations including wheat-cotton, sorghum-cotton, forage sorghum-cotton, and terminated wheat-cotton. At Lubbock in 1988, no differences in irrigated cotton yields were determined. Significantly higher dryland yields were achieved with the wheat-cotton conservation tillage rotations. Net returns were increased for both irrigated and dryland with conservation tillage systems. On the loamy fine soil at Wellman, highest cotton yields and net returns were also achieved with the wheat-cotton conservation tillage rotation. At the clay loam site at Halfway, wheat-cotton and sorghum-cotton rotations produced highest dryland cotton yields and net returns.

Over a three-year period (1986-1988) at Lubbock, dryland yields and net returns were higher for all conservation tillage systems as compared to conventional tillage. In continuous cotton average yields were 29% higher and net returns 52% with reduced tillage. The wheat-cotton conservation tillage rotation produced 53% higher cotton yields and 93% higher net returns over this same period. At Halfway, three year average net returns were increased 55% and 65% with the wheat-cotton and sorghum-cotton conservation tillage rotations, respectively. At Wellman, net returns were increased 2326% with conservation tillage rotations. At all three locations, most dramatic increases on cotton yields and net returns from conservation tillage were achieved under dryland conditions.



Reprinted from Proceedings: 1989 Beltwide Cotton Research Conferences pg. 122
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998