Growth and development of irrigated cotton in conservation management systems of the Texas Rolling Plains

Abstract

AbstractConservation tillage and cover cropping are expected to enhance multiple ecosystem services in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production systems. The few published studies addressing this in the transitional climate of the Texas Rolling Plains region have shown cotton lint yield to be the same in conservation and conventional management systems, though the specific effects of conservation management are still being debated and producer adoption remains low. In this study, in which data was collected in Years 5 and 6 in long‐term management plots, our objective was to make detailed, season‐long measurements of crop development and productivity parameters, identifying diversions among systems, if any. The irrigated cotton management systems included: conventional tillage (CT), no‐till (NT), no‐till with wheat (Triticum aestivum) cover crop (NT‐WC), and no‐till with mixed‐species cover crop (NT‐MC). Several differences were found among systems over discrete timeframes, though these were mostly transient changes without year‐to‐year consistency and did not lead to differences in yield. The only exceptional trend was observed in 2017 in the NT‐MC treatment, as it had relatively great early‐season biomass production and bolls per plant, and greater season‐long plant height relative to the CT system, though these differences did not alter yield. No evidence was found that conservation management negatively affected cotton crop development, productivity, or yield at any point during the two growing seasons. Conservation management practices can be implemented by regional producers for the expected ecosystem services, including reduction of erosion and improved soil health, with no negative effects on the cotton crop anticipated.