Yields and Economics of Conservation Systems for Cotton Production

The advent of high-yielding, early maturing wheat varieties, insect-resistant cotton varieties and boll weevil eradication has opened up new possibilities for diversifying crop selection while implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the Mid-South. Profitability of alternative cropping systems is determined by the specific crop responses and by commodity prices of the included crops. Multicrop sequences can have significant yield benefits but may be no more profitable than monocropping if alternative crops have low profitability. This presentation will discuss cropping systems with emphasis on conservation practices for soil and water quality protection and economics of various cropping systems.