Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #138668
Title: EFFECT OF CROP ROTATION/TILLAGE SYSTEMS ON COTTON YIELD IN THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AREA OF ALABAMA, 1980-2001

Author
item BURMESTER, C - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item Reeves, Donald
item MOTTA, A.C.V. - AUBURN UNIV.PH.D.STUD

Submitted to: Southern Conservation Tillage for Sustainable Agriculture Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/24/2002
Publication Date: 6/24/2002
Citation: Burmester, C.H., Reeves, D.W., Motta, A. 2002. Effect of crop rotation/tillage systems on cotton yield in the tennessee valley area of alabama, 1980-2001. In: Van Santen, E., editor. Proceedings of the 25th Annual Southern Conservation Tillage Conference for Sustainable Agriculture - Making Conservation tillage Conventional: Building a Future on 25 Years of Research. Special Report no. 1, Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and Auburn University, June 24-26, Auburn, Alabama. p. 354-357.

Interpretive Summary: Continuous cropping of cotton and conventional tillage practices have degraded silt loam soils in the Tennessee Valley. In cooperation with Auburn University researchers we became involved in 1996 with a long-term (22 years) cotton rotation/tillage system experiment in the Tennessee Valley of northern Alabama. During the first 15 years of the study, cotton yield increases from rotations were less than 10%. However, in 1995 conversion to no-tillage in all rotations except continuous cotton greatly improved cotton yield response to rotations. Since then, yield increases to rotation have averaged between 5% and 18%. Yield increases due to rotations have been linked to increases in soil organic matter and consequent improvements in soil quality. Wheat as a grain rotation or cover crop often produced the greatest yield benefits to the following cotton crop. Under conventional tillage the wheat residue provided increased organic matter and with no-tillage wheat for cover also reduced surface soil compaction. No-tillage and rotations that increased residue production were linked to increased cotton yields on this soil. This information can be used by extension, NRCS, and private-sector consultants to promote the use of production systems that result in increased soil carbon; improving soil quality and productivity in the long term and enhancing economic sustainability of producers.

Technical Abstract: A replicated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) rotation experiment has been conducted for 22 years on a Decatur silt loam (fine, kaolinitic, thermic, Rhodic Paleudults) in the Tennessee Valley of northern Alabama. The highly productive soil with little disease and nematode problems resulted in cotton yield increases from rotations of generally less than 10% during the first 15 years of the study. A switch to no-tillage in all rotations except continuous cotton in 1995 greatly improved cotton yield response to rotations. From 1995 to 2001 cotton yield increases to rotation have averaged between 5% and 18%. In this study, yield increases due to rotations seem linked to increases in soil organic matter and consequent improvements in soil quality. From 1979 to 1994 using conventional tillage, the only rotation that produced a greater than 10% yield increase was cotton rotated with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and double-cropped soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. This rotation was also the only rotation that significantly increased organic matter levels under conventional tillage. From 1995 to 2001 all rotations were no-tilled, and the greater yield increases to rotations can also be associated with higher soil organic matter levels. Wheat as a grain rotation or cover crop often produced the greatest yield increases to the following cotton crop. Under conventional tillage, the wheat residue provided increased organic matter residue. With no-tillage the wheat cover crop reduced surface soil compaction. No-tillage and rotations that increased residue production were linked to increased cotton yields on this soil.