Progress 01/01/00 to 12/30/04
Outputs
Field studies were conducted on Gigger sl at the LSU AgCenter Macon Ridge Res. Stn. from 2000 thru 2004. In long-term tillage studies, rainfed cotton yield was higher in no-till than in surface-till plots. The combined benefits of no till and wheat cover crop residue resulted in the highest yields. In contrast, under irrigation, cotton following wheat, vetch or native vegetation cover crops produced similar yields. Optimum N rates for cotton following wheat, hairy vetch and native vegetation were 118, 0, and 78 kg/ha, respectively. Soil organic matter was highest in the no-till+wheat cover crop but increases in soil carbon over 17 yr were small (90 kg C/ha/yr). A 2002-04 experiment evaluated the effects of planting date (25 Mar; 5, 15 and 28 Apr; 6, 20, and 28 May; and 6 June) on cotton performance. At 25 Mar and 5 Apr PD, seedling survival was <30%, which reduced yield 18%. Effects of PD and cultivar on yield were significant. Highest yields(avg. 3488 kg/ha)were at PD
between 15 April and 20 May but optimal PD varied among yr. March and early April PD produced lower yields than mid April and early May PD. March and early April PD, however, were superior to the latest PD of 6 June, which resulted in the lowest seedcotton yields for all cultivars (avg. 2036 kg/ha). Cultivar x PD yield interactions were significant because early maturing cultivars had a wider range of optimal PD than late maturing cultivars. Late maturing cultivars were lower yielding than earlier maturing cultivars at PD later than 6 May. In an irrigated study, 4 cycles of a 2-yr cotton-corn rotation demonstrated that, due to the rotation benefits and residual corn N, the fertilizer N requirements of cotton were reduced 30 to 40% compared with continuous mono-crop cotton. In a multi-crop experiment, mono-crop cotton lint yields were 1560, 1157 and 1139 kg/ha in 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively. Through 3 yr, mono-crop wheat, soybean and corn averaged 3450, 3387 and 9596 kg/ha,
respectively. Double-crop soybean averaged 2948 kg/ha. Double-crop cotton lint yields following wheat were 1292, 1121, and 1261 kg/ha in 2002, 2003 and 2004 respectively, averaging 60 kg less than mono-crop cotton. Cotton following a wheat cover crop averaged 1270 kg/ha, about the same as mono-crop cotton following winter fallow. In this study, the cost of using a wheat cover crop as a BMP was an added production cost that was not recovered through yield increases. Economic analyses are based on the following commodity prices per metric ton: soybean, $320; sorghum, $107; corn, $132; wheat, $160. The price for cotton was the loan rate of $1.16/kg. Annual returns above total expenses for mono-crop cotton were $353 and for wheat+double-crop cotton $578/ha. Returns for cotton following wheat green-manure were $304/ha. The corn+wheat+cotton system returned an average of $329/ha. Double-crop wheat+cotton was more profitable than mono-crop cotton. Among mono-crop systems, cotton had the
highest net returns per acre. Systems with higher returns than mono-crop cotton were double-crop and multi-crop systems that included cotton as one component. Production risk among systems would vary and affect income.
Impacts
The research performed for LAB03454 provides information that will optimize the efficiency and profitability of cotton production. Reduced tillage contributes to reductions in runoff and erosion, protecting surface water quality from non-point agricultural pollution but is a BMP that also saves costs, labor and time. Rotational year-round multi-crop and double-crop systems that employ BMPs can also enhance overall farm productivity. Along with the advent of high yielding early maturing wheat varieties, insect-resistant cotton varieties and boll weevil eradication, this opens new possibilities for diversifying crop selection and implementing BMPs. Wheat cover crops increase the yield of cotton but can also be an important component of BMPs and is likely to become part of nutrient management plans. It was demonstrated that it is also practical to harvest a wheat grain crop and follow with a high-yielding summer crop. Other practical BMP systems in which corn, grain
sorghum, soybean and cotton are grown in rotations were shown to be economically feasible. Optimal fertilizer inputs increase production efficiency by maximizing yield, shortening the growing season, minimizing pest problems and reducing total production inputs. Optimal fertilizer rates also protect water bodies from potential nutrient enrichment. Cultivar trials identify superior cultivars for specific soils and provide information that encourages planting the best cultivars. The use of adapted cultivars increases cotton yield 325 kg/ha. With current prices, this results in profit increases of as much as $565/ha.
Publications
- Boquet, D.J. 2005. Cotton in Ultra-narrow row spacing: Plant density and nitrogen fertilizer rates. Agron. J. 97:279-287.
- Boquet, D.J., R.L. Hutchinson, and G.A. Breitenbeck. 2004. Long-term tillage, cover crop, and nitrogen rate effects on cotton: Yield and fiber properties. Agron. J. 96: 1436-1442.
- Boquet, D.J., R.L. Hutchinson, and G.A. Breitenbeck. 2004. Long-term tillage, cover crop, and nitrogen rate effects on cotton: Yield components and plant growth. Agron. J. 96: 1443-1452.
- Boquet, D.J. and G.A. Breitenbeck. 2004. Cropping Systems Trends and Advances. Crop Sci. 44:2285.
- Boquet, D.J., K.W. Paxton, E.L. Clawson, and W. Ebelhar. 2004. The role of rotations in cotton production: Comparisons of continuous cotton with two-year rotations and three crops in two years. P. 65-70. In (P. Dugger and D. Richter) ed. Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. San Antonio, TX. 5-9 Jan. National Cotton Council, Memphis TN.
- Boquet, D.J., K.W. Paxton, E.L. Clawson, and W. Ebelhar. 2004. Crop Yields and profitability of rotations with cotton. P. 2500-2506. In (P. Dugger and D. Richter) ed. Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. San Antonio, TX. 5-9 Jan. National Cotton Council, Memphis TN.
- Caldwell, W.D. J.A. Hayes, A. M. Stewart, D.J. Boquet, E. Clawson, and J.I. Dickson. 2004. Cotton variety test results for Louisiana. P. 1153-1155. In (P. Dugger and D. Richter) ed. Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. San Antonio, TX. 5-9 Jan. National Cotton Council, Memphis TN.
- Clawson, E., D. Boquet, J. Caylor, and C. Shivers. 2004. Planting date and variety effects on cotton stand establishment and lint yield. p 2275. In (P. Dugger and D. Richter) ed. Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. San Antonio, TX. 5-9 Jan. National Cotton Council, Memphis TN.
- Davidonis, G., K. Pusateri, A. Johnson, W.D. Caldwell, J.I. Dickson, and D. Boquet. 2004. p. 2143. Genotype-related changes in fiber property uniformity across boll locations. In (P. Dugger and D. Richter) ed. Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. San Antonio, TX. 5-9 Jan. National Cotton Council, Memphis TN.
- Davidonis, G. and D. Boquet. 2004. Genotype-related differences in length uniformity, maturity uniformity and perimeter. P. 2989. In (P. Dugger and D. Richter) ed. Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. San Antonio, TX. 5-9 Jan. National Cotton Council, Memphis TN.
|
Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
Five cotton field studies were performed in 2003--2 long-term tillage-cover crop experiments, a multi- and double-cropping study, the 2nd year of a planting date (PD) x cultivar study and the uniform cultivar trials. In yr 13 of the till, cover crop and N rate study, irrigated cotton following cover crops of native vegetation, wheat or hairy vetch produced similar yields. Optimal nitrogen (N) rates for cotton following cover crops were 118 kg/ha for native vegetation and wheat and 78 kg/ha following vetch. With application of optimal N rates, lint yields were 1265 kg/ha following native vegetation, 1233 kg/ha following wheat and 1269 kg/ha following vetch. In previous years, optimal N rate following vetch was 0 to 39 kg/ha. Averaged across cover crops and N rates, lint yields were 1074 kg/ha in no till and 1016 kg/ha in surface till cotton, a significant yield advantage for no till. In the 16-year long-term rainfed experiment, yields were 953 kg/ha in surface till and
1086 kg/ha in no till. Cotton following wheat or vetch yielded more (1099 kg/ha) than cotton following native vegetation (1007 kg/ha). In the PD experiment, 6 cultivars were planted at 9 PD on 25 Mar; 3, 14, and 23 Apr; 2, 8, 20 and 27 May; and 4 Jun. Similar to 2002, at PD earlier than mid-Apr, seedling survival and yields were limited by low soil temperature, few DD60s and high rainfall following planting. Seedling survival at the 2 earliest dates was less than 20%. Highest average yields were produced at the 2 May PD but there were significant PD x cultivar interactions. Full season cultivars were among the highest yielders at early PD and among the lowest yielding at later PD, indicating that full season cultivars should be planted at early PD (25 Apr to 8 May) for best results. The optimal PD in 2002 was earlier than past studies in which the optimal PD was 8 May. In the multi-crop study, cotton following winter fallow, wheat cover crop and wheat grain crop yielded 1359, 1398 and
1207 kg/ha, respectively. The significant yield reduction for cotton following a wheat grain crop was offset by the harvest of a wheat crop that produced 3136 kg/ha. Net returns above variable costs were highest in the doublecrop wheat-cotton system ($640/ha). In 2003, 32 early maturing and 22 full season cultivars were evaluted in uniform cultivar trials. Lint yields in irrigated trials averaged 1749 kg/ha and lint yields in rainfed trials averaged 753 kg/ha. Lint yields in the early irrigated trial ranged from 1423 to 1938 kg/ha and in the early rainfed from 508 to 876 kg/ha. Lint yields in full season irrigated trials ranged from 1664 to 2213 kg/ha, and in full season rainfed from 614 to 890 kg/ha. Of 56 cultivars evaluated in 2003, 6 early season cultivars (Stoneville ST 4892BR, ST4793RR; SureGrow SG 215BGRR; Fibermax FM958; SureGrow 105; Paymaster PM1218BGRR) had 3-year average yields greater than 1410 kg/ha in the irrigated trials. Four full-season cultivars (ST 5599BR;
Deltapine 555BGRR, Deltapearl, DP491;) had 3-year average yields greater than 1640 kg/ha in the irrigated trials. These 10 cultivars were recommended for planting on loess soils of the Macon Ridge area in Louisiana.
Impacts
The research in LAB03454 provides information that will help to optimize the efficiency and profitability of cotton production. The reduced tillage practices save producers costs, labor and time and contribute in a major way to reduction of runoff and erosion that will protect surface water quality from agricultural pollution. Optimization of fertilizer inputs increases production efficiency by maximizing yield, shortening the growing season, minimizing pest problems, increasing harvest efficiency and reducing total production inputs. Optimal fertilizer rates also protect water quality from potential nutrient enrichment. Cultivar trials identify superior cultivars for specific soils and provide information that allows producers to plant the best adapted cultivars. Based on yield trials, the use of adapted vs. non-adapted cultivars increases yield of irrigated cotton by an average 325 kg/ha and, with current prices, this results in profit increases of as much as $565
per ha.
Publications
- Boquet, D.J., J. Caylor, and C. Shivers. 2003. No-till cotton response to planting date. p. 2045-2047. In Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conferences. Nashville, TN. 6-10 Jan. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
- Gaston, L.A., D.J. Boquet, and M.A. Bosch. 2002. Fluometron sorption and degradation in cores of silt loam soil from different tillage and cover crop systems. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 67:747-755.
- Bell, P.F., D.J. Boquet, E. Millhollon, S. Moore, W. Ebelhar, C.C. Mitchell, J. Varco, E.R. Funderburg, C. Kennedy, G.A. Breitenbeck, C. Craig, M. Holman, W. Baker, and J.S. McConnell. 2003. Relationships between leaf-blade nitrogen and relative seedcotton yields. Crop Sci. 43:1367-1374.
- Davidonis, G., D.J. Boquet, and W.D. Caldwell. Genotype-related fiber quality variability. 2003. p. 1731. In Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conferences. Nashville, TN. 6-10 Jan. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
|
Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
Four cotton field studies were performed in 2002--2 long-term tillage-cover crop experments, a multi-cropping experiment and a planting date (PD) experiment. In 2002 (12th yr of the study), irrigated cotton following winter cover crops of native vegetation, wheat or hairy vetch produced similar yields. Optimal nitrogen (N) rates were different for cotton following each cover crop--90 kg/ha for native vegetation, 134 kg/ha for wheat and 0 kg/ha for vetch. With application of these N rates, lint yields averaged 1183 kg/ha following native vegetation, 1216 kg/ha following wheat and 1199 kg/ha following vetch. Cotton planted no-till yielded 1245 kg/ha; cotton planted into surface-till seedbeds averaged 1154 kg/ha, which was a significant yield advantage for no till. In the 16-year long-term rainfed experiment, cotton yields in 2002 were much higher than usual because of a nearly ideal growing season. Yields of no till and surface till were not significantly different and
averaged 1460 kg/ha. Cotton following wheat or vetch yielded more (1478 kg/ha) than cotton following native vegetation (1384 kg/ha). In the PD experiment, 6 cultivars were planted at 8 PD on 25 Mar; 3, 15, and 25 Apr; 3, 13 and 23 May; and 3 Jun. At PD earlier than 15 Apr, seedling survival and yields were limited by low soil temperature, few DD60s and high rainfall following planting. Seedling survial at the 2 earliest dates was 11%. Highest average yields were produced at the 24 Apr PD but there were significant PD x cultivar interactions. Full season cultivars were among the highest yielders at early PD and among the lowest yielders at later PD, indicating that full season cultivars should be planted at early PD (15-24 Apr) for best results. The optimal PD in 2002 was earlier than past studies in which the optimal PD was early May. In the multi-crop study, cotton following winter fallow, wheat cover crop and wheat grain crop yielded 1423, 1381 and 1164 kg/ha, respectively. The
significant yield reduction for cotton following a wheat grain crop was offset by the production of a wheat crop that produced 2755 kg/ha. In 2002, 26 early maturing and 28 full season cultivars were evaluated in the uniform cultivar trials. Lint yields in irrigated trials averaged 1499 kg/ha and lint yields in rainfed trials averaged 1598 kg/ha. Lint yields in the early irrigated trial ranged from 1193 to 1745 kg/ha and in the early rainfed from 1355 to 2068 kg/ha. Lint yields in full season irrigated trials ranged from 1325 to 1950 kg/ha, and in full season rainfed from 1180 to 2130 kg/ha. Of 54 cultivars evaluated in 2002, 5 early season cultivars (Phytogen PSC 355; Stoneville ST 4892BR, ST4793RR; SureGrow SG 215BG/RR; Fibermax FM 958) had 3-year average yields greater than 1327 kg/ha in the irrigated trials, and greater than 850 kg/ha in the rainfed trials. Six full-season cultivars (ST 5599BR, ST 580; Deltapine DP 565, DP 458B/RR, DP NuCOTN 33B) had 3-year average yields greater
than 1400 kg/ha in the irrigated trials and greater than 810 kg/ha in the rainfed trials. These 11 cultivars were included on the list of recommended cultivars for planting on loess soils of the Macon Ridge area in LA.
Impacts
Implementation of best management practices (BMPs) is increasingly important to reduce non-point source pollution originating from farmland. The agronomic studies in this project on BMPs (conservation tillage, winter cover-green manure crops, and optimal nitrogen rates) demonstrate that these practices, that are intended to preserve water quality, are also productive BMPs, that is, they increase the productivity of farmland. The increased productivity helps to offset the cost of BMP implementation. Because these BMPs are cost effective, it is economical for producers to use farming practices that protect water quality and increases the likelihood of voluntary adoption of these beneficial BMPs, which will benefit both, water quality and productivity of Louisiana farms. Results of the cultivar testing program provide information that, when used by producers, seed dealers, seed companies, and consultants, increases the yield potential of cotton in Louisiana by about 20%,
compared with planting the cultivars that are identified as unadapted for Louisiana conditions. This amounts to a statewide increase in the value of harvested cotton of about $40 million dollars per year, an increase in value that is obtained at little or no cost to producers.
Publications
- Boquet, Donald J. and Edgar Barry Moser. 2003. Boll retention and boll size among intrasympodial fruiting sites in cotton. Crop Science. 43:195-201.
- Davidonis, Gayle H., Ann Johnson, and Donald J. Boquet. 2002. Losses of genotypic differences in fiber quality are related to growth environment. In Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. 8-12 Jan. Atlanta, GA. National Cotton Council. Memphis TN.
|
Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
Field studies performed in 2001 included 2 tillage-cover crop experiments, a cotton-corn rotation with nitrogen (N) rates, and the cotton cultivar testing program, all on Gigger silt loam. A continuing 16-yr experiment evaluated dryland cotton response to 3 tillage practices of no-till, no-till with cultivation and surface tillage, each in conjuction with 4 winter cover crops (wheat, hairy vetch, wheat + hairy vetch combination, and volunteer winter plants). Tillage practice and cover crop had significant effects on the yield of the following cotton crop, and there were no interaction effects between tillage and cover crop. Averaged across cover crops, cotton in no-till, no cultivation treatments produced the highest lint yield (524 kg/ha). Cultivation in no-till treatments decreased yield (482 kg/ha)compared with no-till. Cotton in surface-tilled treatments produced the lowest yield (389 kg/ha). Among cover crops, cotton following wheat produced the highest lint
yield (514 kg/ha), and cotton following hairy vetch produced the lowest lint yield (426 kg/ha). Effects of fertilizer and residual N were evaluated in an irrigated 6-yr cotton-corn rotation. Cotton lint yields following corn were increased by residual corn N. Optimal fertilizer N rate following corn was 25% lower than the traditional recommended rates for cotton following cotton. High rates of fertilizer N applied to corn, however, did not eliminate the need for fertilizer N for the following cotton crop. A continuing 13-yr experiment evaluated effects of combinations of 2 tillage practices (no-till and surface-till), 3 winter cover crops (hairy vetch, wheat, and volunteer vegetation), and 5 N rates of 0, 39, 78, 118, and 157 kg/ha for irrigated cotton. Tillage practice, cover crop and N rate affected cotton yield. The cover crop x N rate and tillage x N rate interactions were significant. Cotton planted in no-till treatments yielded higher (950 kg/ha) than cotton planted in
surface-tilled treatments (874 kg/ha). The yield increase obtained from application of fertilizer N was greater in the no-till treatments (290 kg/ha) than in surface-till treatments (193 kg/ha), indicating increase in fertilizer efficiency in no-till. Optimal N rate for cotton varied with cover crop and was 0 kg/ha following vetch, 78 kg/ha following volunteer cover, and 118 kg/ha following wheat. With application of optimal N, lint yields did not differ significantly among cover crops, which were 1009 kg/ha following volunteer cover, 1019 kg/ha following vetch, and 981 kg/ha following wheat. The 2001 cotton cultivar evaluations included 36 early-maturing cultivars and 20 full-season cultivars. Lint yields of irrigated trials averaged 1347 kg/ha and yields of dryland trials averaged 560 kg/ha. Lint yields of the irrigated early cultivar test averaged 1285 kg/ha and ranged from a low of 1014 to a high of 1419 kg/ha. Lint yields of the irrigated full-season test averaged 1420 kg/ha and
ranged from a low of 1132 to a high of 1680 kg/ha. Of the 56 cultivars evaluated in 2001, 11 early-maturing and 5 full-season cultivars were placed on the recommended list for production in the Macon Ridge Area of Louisiana.
Impacts
Implementation of best management practices (BMPs) is increasingly important to reduce non-point source pollution originating from farmland. The results of the agronomic studies in this project on BMPs (conservation tillage, winter cover-green manure crops, rotations and reduced nitrogen rates) demonstrate that these practices that are intended to preserve water quality also are productive BMPs, that is, they increase the productivity of farmland. The increased productivity helps to offset the cost of BMP implementation. This makes it economical for producers to use farming practices that protect water quality and increases the likelihood of voluntary adoption of these BMPs, which will benefit both water quality and farm productivity. Results of the cultivar testing program provide information that, when used by producers, seed dealers, seed companies, and consultants, increases the yield potential of cotton in Louisina by about 20%, compared with planting the
cultivars that are identified as unadapted for Louisiana conditions. This amounts to a statewide increase in the value of harvested cotton of about $40 million dollars per year, an increase in value that is obtained at little or no cost to producers.
Publications
- Barnett, J., W.D. Caldwell, D.J. Boquet, S. Stewart, S. Hague, R. Bagwell, E. Burris, J. Caylor, A.B. Coco, P. Colyer, I. Dickson, R. Griffin,, B.R. Leonard, D.K. Miller, C. Overstreet, B. Padgett, and W. Thomas. 2001. Cotton varieties for Louisiana, 2000. Louisiana State Univ. Agric. Ctr. Extension Pub. 2135.
- Boquet, Donald J., W. James Thomas, Alphonse B. Coco, Steve Hague. 2001. Residual nitrogen effects in a cotton-corn rotation. p. 575-576. In Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. Anaheim, CA. 9-13 Jan. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
- Caldwell, W.D., D.J. Boquet, S. Hague, S. Moore, E.A. Payne, J.I. Dickson, P.D. Colyer, G.O. Myers, J. Thomas, A.B. Coco, P.R. Vernon, M.Walcotte. 2001. 2000 Louisiana Cotton Variety Trials. Louisiana State Univ. Agric. Ctr. Res. Sum. No. 129.
- Guidry, Kurt M., Amos Bechtel, Steve Hague, Robert Hutchinson, and Donald Boquet. 2001. Profitability of cotton crop rotation systems in northeast Louisiana. Louisiana Agric. 44(3):22-24.
- Jones, R.H., B.R. Leonard, D.J. Boquet, and K. Emfinger. 2001. Influence of agronomic practices on cotton aphid, Aphis gossyppi Glover, densities in Louisiana cottton. p. 1097-1099. In Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. Anaheim, CA. 9-13 Jan. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
- Paxton, K.W., J.W. Barnett, D.J. Boquet, and R.L. Hutchinson. 2001. An economic analysis of best management practices for Louisiana cotton production. p. 193-195. In Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. Anaheim, CA. 9-13 Jan. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
|
Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
Six field studies were conducted on Gigger sl in 2000. (1) Plant densities of 128000, 256000 and 385000/ha and N rates of 90, 112, 134, and 157 kg/ha were evaluated for cotton planted in a 25-cm row spacing (ultra-narrow row). A standard 100-cm row spacing treatment was included. Within the 25-cm row spacing, plant density and N rate did not affect lint yield that averaged 333 kg/ha in the dryland test and 549 kg/ha in the irrigated test. Lint yields in the 100-cm row spacing were higher, averaging 437 kg/ha in the dryland test and 921 kg/ha in the irrigated test. (2) The 14th year of a dryland conservation tillage experiment was completed in 2000. Tillage treatments of no-till and surface till, winter cover crop (CC) of wheat, hairy vetch and volunteer native vegetation, and N rates of 50 and 100 kg/ha were evaluated. Consistent with previous years, lint yields were highest for cotton planted no-till into wheat residue. (3) The 11th year of an irrigated conservation
tillage, CC, CC termination date and N rate experiment was completed in 2000. In this study, no-till yields were higher than yields in surface till treatments. The CC x N rate yield interaction was significant. Highest lint yields were produced following hairy vetch with 0 fertilizer N, following native vegetation with fertilizer N of 78 kg/ha and following wheat with fertilizer N of 105 kg/ha. (4) Beneficial use of organic wastes as soil amendments was evaluated for cotton. Sewage sludge applied in 1996 increased lint yield in 2000, as it had in the previous 4 years since application. The lint yield increase from sewage sludge application was 246 kg/ha per year for a total increase of 1230 kg/ha over 5 years. Composted sewage sludge was also effective as a soil amendment, increasing lint yield 706 kg/ha over 5 years. In an experiment initiated in 2000, a 5 T/ha application of composted sewage sludge increased yield more than either, an N-S fertilizer made from sewage sludge, or the
standard 90 kg/ha fertilizer N application, probably because the compost contained a wide range of nutrients and 25% organic matter. (5) Five years of an experiment to evaluate fertilizer and residual N effects in a cotton-corn rotation was completed in 2000. Residual N from corn supplied 25 to 50% of the N requirements of cotton. Residual N was not an efficient supplier of N to cotton, as most of the N applied to corn was not accounted for in either the corn or in the following cotton crop. (6) As part of the statewide variety and strains testing program and cooperative efforts with seed companies, a total of 110 cultivars and new strains were evaluated in 6 trials, 3 dryland and 3 irrigated. Dryland yields were low, averaging 350 kg/ha. Irrigated yields averaged 1330 kg/ha. Eleven cultivars with superior performance in the three most recent years of testing were placed on the list of recommended cultivars for planting on loess soils. Three cultivars with superior performance in the
two most recent years of testing met the requirements for placement on the list of promising cultivars. Recommended and promising cultivars included 6 conventional cultivars and 8 transgenically modified cultivars.
Impacts
The soils of the Macon Ridge Area of Louisiana are easily eroded and drought susceptible. The research reported here demonstrates that the Best Management Practices recommended to reduce erosion and the conveyance of sediment, pesticides and plant nutrients to surface water bodies are also practices that can be used to improve soil and crop productivity. This knowledge will result in faster producer implementation of BMPs that otherwise might not be voluntarily adopted, which will benefit environmental sustainability and farm productivity.
Publications
- Boquet, Donald J. and Gary. A. Breitenbeck. 2000. Nitrogen rate effect on partitioning of nitrogen and dry matter by cotton. Crop Sci. 40:1685-1693.
- Boquet, D.J. and S.H. Moore. 2000. Nitrogen management for different soils and cropping systems. p 40-42. In Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. 4-8 Jan. San Antonio, TX. National Cotton Council, Memphis TN.
- Boquet, D.J. 2000. Ultra-narrow row cotton - Does it pay? p 9. In Proc. Louisiana Plant Protection Assoc. and Louisiana Assoc of Agronomist. 6-7 Apr. Baton Rouge, LA.
- Boquet, D.J. and G.A. Breitenbeck. 2000. Soil amendments to increase cotton productivity on drought-stressed soils. p 80-87. In P.K. Bollich (ed.) Proc. 23rd Ann. South. Conserv. Tillage Conf. for Sustain. Agric. 19-21 June. Monroe, LA.
- Caldwell, W.D., R.C. Griffin, D.J. Boquet, E.M. Holman, S. Moore, J.I. Dickson, P.D. Colyer, G.O. Myers, R. Gable, J. Thomas, A.B. Coco, P.R. Vernon, M. Walcotte, and M. Deloach. 2000. 1999 Louisiana Cotton Variety Trials. Louisiana Ag. Ctr. Res. Rep. 117.
|
|