Direct Seeding Cotton into Alfalfa: Challenges and Benefits

Rotations that include alfalfa and cotton leave the soil bare between crops and disqualifies growers from the USDA Conservation Security Program. Direct seeding cotton into alfalfa may be one way to keep sufficient soil cover and reduce erosion due to wind and qualify for government programs.  Alfalfa was either traditionally tilled, ripped once,  sprayed with non-selective herbicide or simply swathed with no herbicide prior to planting cotton.  Half the plots were established in 2007 while the rest came out in 2008.  Although there was a significant year effect on cotton yield there were no statistical differences among treatments.  This implies that rotations are possible without traditional tillage following alfalfa and there could be a significant reduction in fuel used in traditional tillage operations by switching to direct seeding.