National Cotton Council of America
Beltwide Cotton Conferences
January 8-11, 2008
Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center
Nashville, Tennessee
The Cotton Foundation

Recorded Presentations

Delta Ballroom D (Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center)
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
4:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Delta Ballroom D (Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center)
Thursday, January 10, 2008
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Delta Ballroom D (Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center)
Friday, January 11, 2008
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Changes in Soil Moisture with Conservation Practices in Cotton Production Systems

Gretchen F. Sassenrath, D. Ken Fisher, and J. Ray Williford. USDA-ARS, 141 Experiment Station Rd., Stoneville, MS 38776

Conservation tillage practices offer producers improved yields with reduced inputs. Changes in soil structure and hydrology result from the alteration of tillage practices. This study was undertaken to quantitate the changes in soil nutrients and water under various conservation production practices, and their resultant impact on cotton fiber quality and yield. We examined changes in tillage (subsoiling) and cover crop (winter wheat) on soil nutrients, electrical conductivity, and soil moisture during the growing season. Final yield and cotton fiber quality were determined for each production system, and used to determine total economic return.