Comparisons of Tillage Practices in North Carolina Cotton

Cotton is generally susceptible to extended periods of cool and wet soils which are most often encountered early in the growing season and can cause reduced and non-uniform stands.  Planting on raised beds can offer some relief from both of these conditions in certain situations, though many growers have been successful growing no-till or strip-till cotton in most years without a reduction in yield. 

Short term (one growing season) and long term(multiple seasons in same location) tillage studies are being conducted to compare conventional rip and bed tillage systems to flat, strip-till and no-till systems implemented in the fall and spring.  In addition, two planting dates are included in both studies to determine the effect of tillage systems on early and late planted cotton. 

In 2013 and 2014, yield differences were observed in the long term tillage plots.  Cotton on raised beds from fall or spring tillage yielded better than flat tillage systems.  Yield differences were observed in the short term tillage plots as well in 2014, with flat, no-till plots causing the greatest reduction in yield.  Yield data from 2015 is not yet available as plots have not been harvested.