Agronomic and Economic Evaluation of Cover Crops in the Texas Rolling Plains

Cover crops have received much attention since 2012, which coincided with the announcement of the USDA-NRCS Soil Health Initiative. We have evaluated the impact of mono-species and mixed species cover crops in dryland cotton systems on soil moisture use and lint yields since 2011. Irrigated systems have also been evaluated, some since 2008. Recently, economic analysis have been conducted for dry land and irrigated systems. Agronomic and 3-yr economic enterprise budgets will be discussed for various cover crop strategies in cotton systems.