A Comparison of Tillage Systems and Cover Crops for Cotton Production on a Loessial Soil in Northeast Louisiana

R.L. Hutchinson and T.R. Sharpe


 
ABSTRACT

Experiments were conducted on a Gigger silt loam (Typic Fragiudalf) in 1987 and 1988 to evaluate the effects of selected tillage systems and cover crops on cotton production. Tillage systems included conventional-till (CT), ridge-till (RT), and no-till (NT). Cover crops were winter wheat, hairy vetch, crimson clover, and no cover crop. All possible combinations of the above tillage systems and cover crops were included in the study. Yields of RT and NT treatments were similar to CT yields in 1987. Cotton lint yields were increased significantly with hairy vetch and wheat cover crops but not with crimson clover in 1987. Averaged across cover crops, CT yields were significantly larger than RT and NT in 1988. Yields of CT and NT were not increased by cover crops in 1988. However, a 235 pound per acre lint yield increase was obtained with the wheat cover crop in RT. Consequently, the RT-wheat combination produced yields comparable to all CT treatments in 1988. Acceptable stands were obtained with all CT and RT treatments in 1987 and 1988. Stands with NT were acceptable in 1987, but not in 1988. Low yields of NT treatments in 1988 were attributed to poor stands. Earliness of maturity was influenced by tillage systems both years. In 1987, CT treatments were significantly earlier than RT, while CT and NT were similar in maturity. In 1988, CT treatments were significantly earlier than NT and RT. Cover crops had no effect on maturity in 1987 and 1988.



Reprinted from Proceedings: 1989 Beltwide Cotton Research Conferences pp. 517 - 519
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998