Evaluation of Twin-Row Cotton In South Carolina

Due to increasing production costs and reduced prices, cotton producers must now ensure optimal returns on their cotton crops in order to make a profit. One way producers are trying to increase their profitability in crops such as corn and soybeans across the US is by planting their crops using twin row systems. The most popular twin-row system is planting two 7.5 inch rows on a 38- or 40-inch bed with 30 or 32 inch centers. Main advantages of twin row corn and soybeans has been increased yields due to greater sunlight utilization and more uniform plant spacing, and increased weed control due to shading from earlier canopy closure. In cotton production in South Carolina, increased weed control due to earlier canopy closure may become an extremely important weed management practice due to the significant increase in glyphosate-, DNA-, and ALS-resistant pigweed populations over the past few years. Moreover, the use of crop rotations has increased dramatically across the US mainly due to extremely volatile commodity prices. To be profitable, producers need to cut costs associated with equipment overhead and finding a planting system that is effective in many crops would be beneficial. The use of new seeding patterns that are effective in cotton, corn, and soybeans may help improve stand consistency, lower seed costs due to lower seeding rates, and save time and money associated with equipment.  This research was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of using twin row cotton in South Carolina, to compare the growth, yield, fiber quality, and maturity differences between cotton plants produced in twin rows and single traditional rows, and to determine the impact of twin row systems on weed populations.