Effects of Conservation Systems on Soil Moisture and Productivity in Cotton

Southeastern soils are characterized by low organic matter levels and consolidated soil layers thatlimit root growth. The low productive potential of many of these soils, coupled with recent poor crop prices andshort-term droughts has placed many farmers in an untenable position. Soil-specific conservation systems canimprove the profitability of Southeastern farms, mainly by increasing soil water storage and availability to cropsduring periods of short-term drought common in the region. Cropping and soil management systems areneeded that increase soil quality and productive potential of these soils while decreasing inputs and increasingnet returns. The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of non-inversion tillage operations andwinter cover crops on soil moisture and crop productivity. Three conservation tillage systems (no-till, strip-till,and paratill) were evaluated in a cotton production system. The tillage was applied in the fall or the spring. Twowinter cover crop systems, rye and no cover, were also compared. The cover crop was killed chemically beforeplanting of cash crop and managed with a roller-crimper. Yield, soil moisture, leaf temperature, cover cropbiomass, and cover crop chemical analysis data were collected. Results from the first two years of this studyindicate that winter cover crops have negatively impacted crop yields, potentially due to Nitrogen availability inthe soil. Spring tillage significantly increased cash crop yields. Fall tillage was not significantly different fromno-till due to soil reconsolidation. As work continues on this study the results should indicate which tillage andcover crop systems increase soil quality, productivity, and profitability in these degraded soils.