Influence of Cropping Systems on Cotton Yields and Fiber Quality

J.E. Matocha and F.L. Hopper


 
ABSTRACT

Short-season cotton was grown in a long-term, nonirrigated study of the effects of crop rotation and limited fertilization on lint production and fiber properties. Main plots were the following crop rotations: 1) continuous cotton, 2) 1-yr. cotton:1-yr sorghum, 3) 2-yrs. cotton:2-yrs. sorghum, and 4) continuous sorghum. Each system was studied at zero fertilizer (0-0-0) and 40-1 O-O(N-P2O5-K2O) in split plot comparisons. Data indicate lint yields were highly variable with season and rainfall and to a lesser degree with cropping system. Cotton yields were generally influenced less by grain sorghum grown in rotation with cotton than were grain yields. Cotton following grain sorghum in alternate years produced lint increases above continuous cotton ranging from 0 to 47% and a mean of 32%. Fertilization increased yield differences due to cropping system. With one exception, fiber quality generally changed very little due to alternating cotton with grain sorghum. Fiber strength and length were enhanced in er soil moisture stress.



Reprinted from 1990 Proceedings: Beltwide Cotton Production Research Conferences pp. 489 - 491
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998