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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #390640
Research Project: Conservation Systems to Improve Production Efficiency, Reduce Risk, and Promote Sustainability

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Effects of cotton stalk management and cover crop use on soil properties and cotton leafroll dwarf virus incidence

Author
item FRAZIER, SAMUEL - Auburn University
item BROWN, STEVE - Auburn University
item Balkcom, Kipling
item JACOBSON, ALANA - Auburn University
item BARBER, DALTON - Auburn University

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/28/2021
Publication Date: 5/6/2022
Citation: Frazier, Samuel A., Brown, Steve M., Balkcom, Kipling S., Jacobson, Alana L., and Barber Dalton E. 2022. Effects of cotton stalk management and cover crop use on soil properties and cotton leafroll dwarf virus incidence. In S. Boyd and M. Huffman (eds.) Beltwide Cotton Conf., San Antonio, TX. 4-6 Jan. 2022 Nat. Cotton Counc. Cordova, TN.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV) was reported in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) in Alabama in 2017. This study recorded CLRDV presence in cotton following three cotton stalk destruction methods with and without a cover crop, as well as the effect on soil properties. Stalk destruction methods were major tillage, mowing, and mowing-pulling. A mixture of cereal rye (Secale cereale) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) was used for the cover crop treatment. Two cotton varieties were included, DP 2055 B3XF and PHY 400 W3FE. Trial locations were in the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station System at the E. V. Smith Research Center (EVSREC), Shorter, AL; Wiregrass Research and Extension Center (WGREC), Headland, AL; and Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center (GCREC), Fairhope, AL. Data collection included soil moisture and soil penetrometer values, cover crop biomass, various cotton growth measurements, pre-bloom aphid presence, CLRDV infection, and cotton lint yield. Soil moisture values were relatively consistent across stalk management treatments. Soil penetrometer values showed elevated soil strength values across all stalk destruction methods when no cover crop was present. CLRDV infection results showed 33% incidence at EVSREC, 19% at WGREC, and 2.7% at GCREC. Re-sampling after harvest indicated 72% incidence at EVSREC, 76% at WGREC, and 32% at GCREC. Neither cotton stalk management methods nor cover crop use seemed to significantly impact CLRDV. More research is needed to determine how cotton stalk management affects soil properties and the incidence of CLRDV.