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Title: NO-TILLAGE AND REDUCED TILLAGE COTTON PRODUCTION IN SOUTH TEXAS

Author
item Smart, James
item Bradford, Joe

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/16/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Cotton production using conservation tillage practices reduces soil erosion due to wind and water, time, labor, fuel, equipment needs, trips over field, and increases net returns. Objectives of this study were to evaluate pre-plant no-tillage, reduced tillage, and conventional tillage production practices for cotton at irrigated and dryland sites over a 3-year period. Irrigated crop yields for pre-plant no-tillage were $127/acre greater than conventional tillage, and reduced tillage net returns were $110/acre greater than conventional tillage. Pre-plant no-tillage was $42/acre, and reduced tillage was $48/acre more than conventional tillage cotton when averaged over a 3-year period.

Technical Abstract: Cotton production using pre-plant no-tillage and reduced tillage systems is increasing in south Texas and northwestern Mexico. Conservation tillage and residue management systems reduce wind and water erosion and can increase water storage in the soil profile. Objectives were to evaluate pre-plant no-tillage and reduced tillage cotton production systems and compare these systems with conventional tillage. Split-plot randomized complete block design experiments were used in irrigated and dryland sites during 1993, 1994, and 1995. Main plots were tillage systems, and plot systems consisted of crop rotations within each tillage system. Crop residue at planting for pre-plant no-tillage cotton ranged from 29 to 43 percent residue cover of the soil for irrigated studies and 12 to 24 percent for dryland sites. Net returns over 3 years were greatest with pre-plant no-tillage ($91/acre compared with $74/acre with reduced tillage and -$36/acre for conventional tillage). Crop yields of preplant no-tillage cotton were equal to or better than conventional tillage in all 3 years at the irrigated and dryland locations.