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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #183401
Title: CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT DECISIONS FOR COMPACTED COASTAL SOILS IN COTTON WITH BURIED MICROIRRIGATION

Author
item Busscher, Warren
item Bauer, Philip

Submitted to: Soil and Water Conservation Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/24/2004
Publication Date: 7/24/2004
Citation: Busscher, W.J., Bauer, P.J. 2004. Conservation management decisions for compacted coastal soils in cotton with buried microirrigation [abstract]. Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference, July 24-28, 2004, St. Paul Minnesota. Available: http://www.swcs.org/documents/Abstracts_110804163000.htm

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Because of high soil strengths in Coastal Plain soils, producers using buried microirrigation tubes may have to decide whether to increase the amount of tubing used or to deep till between tubes. In cotton that was irrigated with buried microirrigation tubes on coastal sandy soils, high soil strength became so severe that root limiting values occurred within a few inches of the surface. High strengths continued down through the profile in Ap and E horizions to a depth of more than 12 inches, the depth of the buried tubes. Different surface and deep tillage conservation management systems were used to alleviate compaction. Surface tillage was disking, chiseling plus disking, or no tillage; deep tillage was subsoiling or not. Tillage operations were carefgul to not disrupt laterals that were buried under either every row or under every other mid-row. Cotton was grown in the plots in 38-in wide rows. Since both 2001 and 2002 were dry years, yield was improved by irrigation. Deep tillage was effective in increasing yield for laterals buried in every other mid-row but not when laterals were buried in every row. For conservation purposes, producers will have to decide whether to bury laterals under every row and not deep till or bury fewer laterals under every other mid-row and deep till.