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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Water Quality and Ecology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #191068
Title: NET RETURN COMPARISON OF NO-TILLAGE AND REDUCED TILLAGE COTTON PRODUCTION UNDER DIFFERENT COVER CROPPING REGIMES IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA

Author
item MARTIN, STEVE - MS STATE UNIVERSITY
item Locke, Martin

Submitted to: National Conservation Tillage Cotton and Rice Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2006
Publication Date: 1/10/2006
Citation: Martin, S.W., Locke, M.A. 2006. Net return comparison of no-tillage and reduced tillage cotton production under different cover cropping regimes in the mississippi delta. National Conservation Tillage Cotton and Rice Conference Abstract. Feb. 2006. No Page Numbers.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: USDA scientists began a study in 2000 at the Delta Research Center located at Stoneville, MS to evaluate cover crops on reduced and no-till cotton production. This report uses the production practices implemented by the USDA researchers as well as the yield data collected to estimate economic cost and returns for each tillage and cover crop system. Six systems were evaluated. No-till with a cover crop of clover, no-till with a cover crop of rye, no-till with no cover crop, reduced till with a clover cover crop, reduced till with a rye cover crop and reduced till with no cover crop. The reduced till system used fall tillage to reform (hip) row beds. Rye cover crops were replanted each fall and rolled down in the spring. Clover cover crops were established in the first year of the study and not replanted over the four reported years of the study. Weed control with all systems included burn down spray applications in the spring. This paper summarizes net returns over the four years reported. No-till with a rye cover crop provided the highest over-all net returns. Interestingly no cover crop provided the highest reduced till returns.