Continuous Cotton System

For the Conventional Cotton System, a cover crop of wheat is planted at 50 lb/acre in furrow bottoms between listed rows every year. Rows are listed on 40 inch centers directly over the drip tapes. In the spring, wheat is chemically terminated by applying 0.75 lb a.i. of Roundup per acre. Additionally, Round-up Ready cotton (Paymaster 2326) is planted around May 12 into the raised beds between the rows of wheat plants. The planting rate for the cotton is 6 seed/foot of row. Fertilizer is applied at planting and squaring based on soil test analysis. Cotton is normally harvested with a cotton stripper between the end of October and the first part of November.

Pesticides and Growth Regulators. In addition to the Roundup application to terminate wheat growth, spot treatments with Banvel and Roundup will be applied for control of localized bindweed (Convollvulus arvensis L.) growth. Treflan (1 qt/acre) will be applied preplant and incorporated with a rolling cultivator into the top of the beds only. Roundup will be applied for weed control at the 4-leaf growth stage of cotton. Cotton fields will be physically hoed during September, primarily for Johnsongrass (Sorghum halapense) and pigweed (Amaranthus palmeri) control if needed. Additionally, Karate, Pirate, and Bidren will be applied  for control of boll worm, beet army worm, and aphids, respectively as needed. The plant growth regulator Pix will be applied to stunt growth of the cotton plants as necessary.

Alternative Crop/Livestock System

Perennial Pastures. For the Alternative System, 50% of the land area was established in permanent pasture. The warm-season grass ‘W. W. B. Dahl’ old world bluestem (Bothriochloa bladhii) was planted May 11, 1998 and excellent stands were achieved. No preplant herbicide was used but 1/10 oz. Ally plus 0.05% Induce was applied on July 9, 1998 to help control broadleaf weeds. Plots were mowed twice to suppress growth of volunteer grasses and weeds and to open the canopy for the emerging seedlings of old world bluestem. By September, the old world bluestem had formed nearly complete stands. A partial seed harvest (only mature seed) was made on October 26, 1998. Due to weather conditions no further harvests could be made.

Small Grains. The remaining half of this system was divided into two equal-sized paddocks of 2.28 acres each. It is here that the rotation of rye, cotton, wheat, fallow, back to rye takes place. Cotton is produced in each of these two paddocks but in alternating years so that in any one year, cotton is planted into only one of the paddocks. On September 19, 1997, ‘Maton’ rye (Secale cereale) was planted into one paddock while ‘Lockett’ wheat (Triticum aestivum) was planted into the second paddock. These small grains are intended to provide grazing during winter for stocker steers.

Cotton. Following rye grazeout and appropriate regrowth, Roundup will be applied at 0.75 lb a.i. per acre. Round-up Ready cotton (Paymaster 2326) will then be no-till planted into rye stubble at a seeding rate of 6 seed/foot of row. Roundup will be applied at the 4-leaf growth stage to control weeds. Weeds will be hand hoed and insecticides and plant growth regulators applied as described for the Conventional System. Fertilizer will be applied at planting and squaring based on soil test analysis. Cotton is normally harvested with a cotton stripper between the end of October and the first part of November.

Boll Weevils.

Boll weevil monitoring traps have been used to determine the boll weevil overwintering population and in-season movement within the project area. In October, boll weevils are placed in cages within the bluestem and rye pastures to determine effects of these forages on overwinter survival of the weevil. These cages will be monitored to determine boll weevil survival rates in the different forage covers.