Evaluation of Salinity Management Products and Practices in West Texas Irrigated Cotton – 2016 Results

Cotton is produced on millions of salt affected acres, many of these are due to poor quality irrigation water and  elevated surface water evaporation, especially in semi-arid environments. Cotton is considered a salt tolerant crop but germination, seedling establishment, and yield are much reduced in salt affected soils.  Due to recent droughts and increased irrigation, salinity problems have intensified in West Texas and salt mediation practices have been pursued for use in sub-surface drip irrigation. Salt mediation products were applied at planting in replicated field trials in 2014-16.  Although trends and numerical differences among treatments were observed in plant stand and lint yield; statistically significant results as compared to the untreated check were not obtained. Crop rotation to dryland winter wheat, cotton, and grain sorghum reduced soil salinity over time as monitored by annual soil sampling.  Greenhouse testing of cotton seed germination and seedling growth was evaluated in 2015 and 2016 for comparing soil and water treatments and cotton varieties. Significant differences were observed in cotton varieties but not for electromagnetic water treatment, seed treatment, or soil treatment.