Abstract
Three years of studies on energy inputs to cotton production were conducted in eastern Arkansas. Fuel use per unit area and yield were investigated for narrow-row (76-cm, 30-in. row spacing), bedded and flat production systems versus conventionally spaced (97-cm, 38-in. row spacing), bedded production systems. Fuel use per unit area decreased with increase in speed of stripper and picker harvesting. Yield decreased for the narrow-row production systems during a hot, dry year, and the fuel savings may not have offset the yield reduction, depending on variety planted. Yield during a year with normal precipitation was at least as high for the narrow-row production systems, and sometimes higher, than for the conventional production systems. Stripper harvesting used less fuel and harvested more of the crop than picker harvesting. Stripper harvesting also resulted in collection of more trash than picker harvesting, so savings in fuel use and increased crop harvested should be compared to the cost of removing trash from the seed cotton. A proposed energy-conserving cotton production system for eastern Arkansas consists of planting Cascot L7 in bedded, narrow rows and brush roll stripper harvesting with the cleaner operating. Use of this system resulted in approximately a 60% reduction in total fuel use per unit area and a 429% increase in the clean seed cotton harvested per unit of diesel fuel used as compared to the conventional production system with twice-over picker harvesting.
Published Version
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