The Effectiveness of Annual Vs. Biennial Strip Tillage in Upland Cotton on Lint Yield and Plant Growth

Three cotton strip trials were implement in 2015 to study the effect of annual and biennial strip-tillage using sub-inch GPS guidance on plant growth, soil compaction, and lint yield in upland cotton. The objectives were : 1) evaluate the response in early season plant growth and lint yield of cotton when produced using annual and biennial strip-tillage and 2) measure the impact of annual and biennial strip-tillage and soil compaction during the growing season. Soil compaction was measured at planting, in-season, and after harvest using a soil penetrometer to determine the depth to root restrictive layer. Plant heights were measured in centimeters weekly throughout the growing season, as well as total number of nodes until cutout. Strips will be harvested and lint yield calculated. There were evident differences between trial locations, which may be explained by soil type. One location had a sandy soil type, and the other locations were a mix of heavy and sandy textured soils. Early season penetrometer measurements showed a correlation with depth to root restrictive layer based on tillage, with annually ripped strips having deeper depths to root restrictive layer than the biennial strips in heavier soil types. In-season penetrometer measurements taken in-row, 6’’, 12’’, and 18’’ showed minimal differences in depth to root restrictive layer within the strip-till treatments in the sandy soil textured trial. Trials with heavier soil types showed significant differences in depth, with annual strip-tillage having deeper depths to root restrictive layer. Plant heights differed between the treatments within each of the three trials throughout the season, expressing significant differences at times, but not consistently throughout the season.