HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (12) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nyakatawa, E. Z. Articles by Reddy, K.C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Nyakatawa, E. Z. Articles by Reddy, K.C. Agricola Articles by Nyakatawa, E. Z. Articles by Reddy, K.C. Related Collections Seed Establishment Other Cropping Systems Sorghum Cotton Other Soil Management Tillage Animal Waste

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Tillage, Cover Cropping, and Poultry Litter Effects on Cotton

I. Germination and Seedling Growth

Dep. of Plant and Soil Science, Alabama A&M Univ., P.O. Box 1208, Normal, AL 35762 USA

reddyc{at}aamu.edu

Inadequate and less vigorous crop stand is a constraint to adoption of conservation tillage in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production. We evaluated the effects of tillage (conventional till, mulch-till, no-till), cropping system (cotton–winter fallow, cotton–winter rye, Secale cereale L.), and N source and rate (ammonium nitrate and poultry litter; 0, 100, and 200 kg N ha^-1) on cotton seedling emergence on a Decatur silt loam soil (Typic Paleudults) in northern Alabama, from 1996 to 1998. Cotton seedling counts under no-till were 40 to 150% greater than those under conventional till at 1 and 2 d during seedling emergence. Cotton–winter rye cropping system had 14 to 50% greater seedling counts than cotton–winter fallow cropping during the first 4 d of emergence in 1998. Poultry litter source of N gave 17 to 50% greater cotton seedling counts than ammonium nitrate during the first 4 d of emergence in 1998. In all these cases, the differences progressively narrowed down by the 4th day of seedling emergence. Cotton seedling counts were significantly correlated to cotton growth parameters and lint yield, especially in the drier year (1998). These results were attributed to soil moisture conservation during seedling emergence. Our results show that conservation tillage improved cotton germination, emergence, dry matter, and lint yield. Therefore, no-till with winter rye cover cropping and poultry litter can be used for achieving early cotton seedling emergence and growth in the U.S. cotton belt where dryland cotton production systems are on the increase and safe disposal of poultry litter is becoming an environmental problem.

Abbreviations: AN, ammonium nitrate • CC, cotton–winter fallow • CR, cotton–winter rye • CT, conventional till • LAI, leaf area index • MT, mulch-till • NT, no-till • PL, poultry litter

This article has been cited by other articles:

				U. M. Sainju, Z. N. Senwo, E. Z. Nyakatawa, I. A. Tazisong, and K. C. Reddy Tillage, Cropping Systems, and Nitrogen Fertilizer Source Effects on Soil Carbon Sequestration and Fractions J. Environ. Qual., May 1, 2008; 37(3): 880 - 888. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Vasilakoglou, K. Dhima, I. Eleftherohorinos, and A. Lithourgidis Winter Cereal Cover Crop Mulches and Inter-Row Cultivation Effects on Cotton Development and Grass Weed Suppression Agron. J., September 5, 2006; 98(5): 1290 - 1297. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. A. Abrahamson, D. E. Radcliffe, J. L. Steiner, M. L. Cabrera, J. D. Hanson, K. W. Rojas, H. H. Schomberg, D. S. Fisher, L. Schwartz, and G. Hoogenboom Calibration of the Root Zone Water Quality Model for Simulating Tile Drainage and Leached Nitrate in the Georgia Piedmont Agron. J., November 17, 2005; 97(6): 1584 - 1602. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. C. Mitchell and S. Tu Long-Term Evaluation of Poultry Litter as a Source of Nitrogen for Cotton and Corn Agron. J., March 1, 2005; 97(2): 399 - 407. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. K. Reddy, E. Z. Nyakatawa, and D. W. Reeves Tillage and Poultry Litter Application Effects on Cotton Growth and Yield Agron. J., November 1, 2004; 96(6): 1641 - 1650. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. Boquet, R. L. Hutchinson, and G. A. Breitenbeck Long-Term Tillage, Cover Crop, and Nitrogen Rate Effects on Cotton: Yield and Fiber Properties Agron. J., September 1, 2004; 96(5): 1436 - 1442. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. Boquet, R. L. Hutchinson, and G. A. Breitenbeck Long-Term Tillage, Cover Crop, and Nitrogen Rate Effects on Cotton: Plant Growth and Yield Components Agron. J., September 1, 2004; 96(5): 1443 - 1452. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]