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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #137845
Title: THE VALUE OF LUPINUS ALBUS L. CV. AU HOMER AS A WINTER COVER CROP FOR COTTON

Author
item VAN SANTEN, EDZARD - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item Reeves, Donald

Submitted to: Lupin International Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/10/2003
Publication Date: 7/24/2003
Citation: Van Santen, E., Reeves, D.W. 2003. The value of lupinus albus l. cv. au homer as a winter cover crop for cotton. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Lupin Conference - Wild and Cultivated Lupins from the Tropics to the Poles, June 19-24, 2002, Laugarvatn, Iceland. CDROM

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Successful cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) management in the southeastern USA with conservation tillage requires the utilization of winter cover crops to increase organic matter in the top 5 cm of the soil. The objective of our research was to test the newly-developed bitter white lupin cv. `AU Homer' as a cover crop preceding cotton in a trial conducted for two years (1998-1999) at the Ala. Agric. Exper. Stn.'s E.V. Smith Research Center, in Shorter, Alabama. Three cover crop (white lupin cv. AU Homer, black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) cv. SoilSaver, crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) cv. AU Robin ) and one winter fallow treatment were established each autumn. Each cover crop plot was designed to accommodate four sub plots treated with N-rates of 0, 34, 68, and 102 kg ha-1. In late March, existing winter vegetation was killed with glyphosate and cotton planted following non-inversion paratilling. Plant counts were taken on a 3-m section of the two center rows of each plot for 8-wk, beginning 2 wk post seeding; a final count was done just prior to harvest. Emergence was slightly suppressed for cotton following crimson clover. Seed cotton yields were highest for AU Homer followed by black oat and crimson clover. Maximum yields for cotton following AU Homer were reached at 34 kg N ha-1, whereas cotton following winter fallow required 102 kg N ha-1 for maximum production. Using extension cost estimates for variable inputs, returns were always higher for lupin winter cover than for crimson clover or fallow treatments. Given the right situation (well-drained fields, timely autumn establishment) producers would experience an increased return compared to winter fallow and crimson clover if they utilized AU Homer as a winter cover crop.