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LOGO: Journal of Cotton Science

 

Evaluation of Strip Tillage on Weed Control, Plant Morphology, and Yield of Glyphosate-Resistant Cotton

Authors: Pawel J. Wiatrak, David L. Wright, and Jim J. Marois
Pages: 10-14
Agronomy and Soils

In 2001 and 2002, a field study was conducted in Quincy, FL, with glyphosate-resistant cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to evaluate the influence tillage on weed control, plant development, and yield. Two tillage systems, conventional and strip-till, were evaluated. The plots were broadcast sprayed with glyphosate (Roundup Ultra; Monsanto, St. Louis, MO) at 427 g a.i. ha-1 when cotton plants were at the 3- to 5-node stage and direct-sprayed at the same rate at the 8- to 10- and the 12- to 15-node stages. Averaged across years, tillage system did not influence cotton yields (957 and 964 kg ha-1 for conventional and strip tillage, respectively). For most traits, responses were not affected by tillage or by the tillage by year interaction. Greater weed control was obtained for conventional than strip-tilled cotton (1.3 and 4.1% of the soil surface covered with weeds, respectively) at 30 days after treatment (DAT), but weed control at 10 and 60 DAT was similar between treatments. Plant stand at 14 days after planting (DAP) was greater in conventional tillage in 2002. Plants were taller in conventional tillage at 90 DAP in 2002, but number of main stem nodes were greater in strip tillage at 90 and 120 DAP in 2002. Strip tillage increased the total number of bolls per plant, and the number of bolls on the second and third position of the fruiting branch in 2002. These results indicate that growing cotton in strip-tillage is comparable to conventional tillage.