Cotton Production Systems for Soil and Energy Conservation in Coastal Plain Soils

Abstract

Cotton growers in the southern USA are facing new production problems that are reducing farm profits and sustainability: 1) herbicide-resistant weeds are spreading throughout the Southeast, 2) thrips are consistently ranked as an important insect pest group Beltwide, 3) the most effective tool for managing nematodes and thrips (aldicarb) currently is only available in the southeastern USA in limited amounts, and 4) fuel costs have increased significantly over the last ten years. An interseeding system was developed at Clemson University that allows planting of cotton into standing wheat, about 2 - 3 weeks before wheat harvest. This system, which combines benefits of crop residue and minimum tillage operations, has the potential to alleviate many of the production problems cited above, while enhancing farm profits and soil properties. Crop residue associated with the interseeding production system reduced weed populations and required significantly less herbicide inputs compared with the conventional system. Columbia lance nematodes populations were reduced in the interseeding system by 83% without an application of nematicide. Populations of thrips were reduced by 74% in the interseeding production system. No differences were observed between the yields from interseeded and the conventional full-season cotton. However, revenues from the interseeding system were higher due to harvest of the wheat crop. In addition, the interseeding system consumed 35% less fuel than the conventional production systems.