Wheat/Cotton Cropping Systems for Coastal Plain Soils (Two Year's Results)

T. H. Garner, A. Khalilian, C.E. Hood Jr., and M. J. Sullivan


 
ABSTRACT

Interseeding cotton into wheat is a relatively new practice that potentially has conservation, economic and soil management advantages. With this system, wheat is drilled in the fall in a row pattern that provides traffic lanes as guides for later planting of the row crop. Deep tillage, often required for optimum cotton yields in coastal plain soils, may be accomplished in the fall prior to wheat seeding. Use of the established traffic lanes for cultural practices required after wheat emergence allows for elimination of spring deep tillage. The firm traffic lanes also permit field operations such as crop spraying and combine harvesting to be performed in a more timely manner. The standing wheat and stubble,after wheat harvest, prevent soil loss due to water and wind erosion, as well as, protect the young cotton seedlings from wind damage. This paper presents results of studies of four cropping systems conducted at The Edisto Research and Education Center, Blackville, S. C. during 1990 and 1991. These systems were: (1). Interseeding, (2). Wheat used only as a cover crop, with cotton planted no-till, after wheat was chemically desiccated and mowed, (3). Conventional full-tillage, full-season, (4). Conventional no-till with cotton planted in stubble after wheat harvest.



Reprinted from 1992 Proceedings Beltwide Cotton Conferences pg. 509
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998