ARS | Publication request: TILLAGE FREQUENCY INFLUENCES ON COTTON PRODUCTION.

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 30, 2001
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: In-row chisel(IC) and paraplow (PP) tillages disrupt consolidated soil zones and improve rooting capacity. These compaction-disrupting-tillages (CDT) increase costs of farm operations because of the need for larger tractors and greater fuel use. We evaluated the need for CDT in a typic Kanhapludult soil when applied continuously (C), or in years 3, 4, or 5 following first year initial application of CDT. Plots were no-till manage in other years. Cotton yields in the third year ranged from 2.28 to 1.26 Mg ha-1 seed cotton. Yields of IC-Yr3 were greater than conventional-C, PP-Yr3 and secondary tillage (ST-Yr1only). In year four, cotton yields ranged from 3.59 to 2.38 Mg ha-1 with the top three treatments being IC-C, IC-Yr4, and IC-Yr1only. In 1996, the fifth year of the study, no significant differences in yields were observed among tillages; however, two IC treatments were in the top five yields. Over the three years of cotton production, in-row chisel plots out yielded the conventional treatment and had numerically greater yields than PP and ST. Yields for PP and ST were not different. In-row chisel appears to be a better choice for disrupting consolidated zones in this soil because of its lower energy requirement than PP and greater cotton yield response during this study.