ARS | Publication request: Winter Cereal Termination and Conservation Agriculture Cotton Yield Following Mechanical and Chemical Management Systems

Submitted to: Soil and Water Conservation Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 21, 2008
Publication Date: July 21, 2008
Citation: Price, A.J., Arriaga, F.J., Balkcom, K.S., Bergtold, J.S., Kornecki, T.S., Raper, R.L. 2008. Winter Cereal Termination and Conservation Agriculture Cotton Yield Following Mechanical and Chemical Management Systems [Abstract]. Soil and Water Conservation Society. CDROM.

Technical Abstract: An integral component of conservation-tillage systems in cotton is the use of a high-residue winter cover crop; however, managing such cover crops is a challenge. Black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.), rye (Secale cereale L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) winter cover crops were established in early November at the E.V. Smith Research and Extension Center located near Shorter, AL in the fall of 2003, 2004, 2005. Additionally, wheat was established in early November 2004 at the Tennessee Valley Research and Extension Center near Bella Mina, AL and at a grower’s field near Robertsdale, AL. In mid-April in both years each cover was flattened with a straight-blade mechanical roller-crimper alone or followed by three rates of glyphosate (0.75, 0.38, 0.19 lb ae/ac). Additionally, glyphosate alone at each rate and a non-treated check were included to complete the factorial treatment arrangement. Cotton was then established after within-row sub-soiling at E.V. Smith and no-till at Tennessee Valley in four row (40 in. spacing) plots while in the grower’s field, eight row plots established no-till were utilized. At 3 weeks after treatment in 2004, averaged across covers, rolling plus glyphosate at 0.75 or 0.38 lb/ac terminated the reproductively mature covers greater or equal to 96%. At E.V. Smith in 2005, rye termination greater or equal to 96% was observed with glyphosate treatments at rates greater or equal to 0.38 lb ae/ha with no increase in termination with rolling. In 2006, rye termination was similar with rolling fb glyphosate at any rate or glyphosate alone at a rate greater or equal to 0.38 lb ae/ac, providing greater or equal to 97% termination. In 2004, cotton seed lint yield following rolled rye was higher than yield following non-rolled rye. In 2005, rolling rye excluding glyphosate or reduced rates of glyphosate decreased yield, likely due to rye immaturity at time of rolling. In 2006, cotton seed lint yield following rolled rye was similar to yield following non-rolled rye.