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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #232527
Title: Comparison of Mechanical and Chemical Winter Cereal Cover Crop Termination Systems and Cotton Yield in Conservation Agriculture

Author
item Price, Andrew
item ARRIAGA, FRANCISCO
item RAPER, RANDY
item Balkcom, Kipling
item Kornecki, Ted
item REEVES, DONALD

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/30/2009
Publication Date: 12/31/2009
Citation: Price, A.J., Arriaga, F.J., Raper, R.L., Balkcom, K.S., Kornecki, T.S., Reeves, D.W. 2010. Comparison of mechanical and chemical winter cereal cover crop termination systems and cotton yield in conservation agriculture. Journal of Cotton Science. 13:238-245.

Interpretive Summary: An integral component of conservation agriculture systems in cotton is the use of a high-residue winter cover crop; however, terminating such cover crops is a cost and planting into high-residue is a challenge. Black oat, rye, and wheat winter cover crops were flattened with a straight-blade mechanical roller-crimper alone or followed by four reduced rates of glyphosate. Results showed that rolling followed by glyphosate applied at rates less than half the standard use can effectively and reliably terminate mature cereal winter cover crops; thus maintaining cotton population and protecting growth. Additionally, reduced glyphosate rates as low as three-quarters of the standard use rate alone can effectively terminate immature cereal covers. Rolling mature winter cereal cover crops will likely conserve more soil moisture compared to standing covers; however, rolling immature cereal cover crops provides no benefit.

Technical Abstract: An integral component of conservation agriculture systems in cotton is the use of a high-residue winter cover crop; however, terminating such cover crops is a cost and planting into high-residue is a challenge. Black oat, rye, and wheat winter cover crops were flattened with a straight-blade mechanical roller-crimper alone or followed by four rates of glyphosate. At 3 weeks after treatment at all locations, averaged across winter cover crops, rolling plus glyphosate at 0.42 kg ae/ha or greater terminated the covers = 96%. 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 a non-rolled rye winter cover crop. At Robertsdale in 2005, yield was highest following non-treated and non-rolled treatments. Rolling alone decreased yield by over 700 kg/ha. Increasing glyphosate rate in either rolled or non-rolled wheat decreased lint yield. At Tennessee Valley in 2005, rolling alone increased yield compared to non-treated plots. No increase in yield was observed by increasing glyphosate rates over rolling alone, reflecting adequate termination by the rolling treatment. Results showed that rolling followed by reduced glyphosate rates as low as 0.42 kg ae/ha can effectively and reliably terminate mature cereal winter cover crops; thus maintaining cotton population and protecting growth. Additionally, reduced glyphosate applied as low as 0.84 kg ae/ha alone can effectively terminate immature cereal covers. Rolling mature winter cereal cover crops will likely conserve more soil moisture compared to standing covers; however, rolling immature cereal cover crops provides no benefit.