Economics of Xtendflex Cotton By Tillage, Rotation, and Herbicide Input

Field trials were conducted during 2019 and 2020 in irrigated (College Station) and dryland (Thrall and Corpus Christi) locations in Texas to determine the influence of tillage, crop rotation and herbicide programs on weed management economics. Experiments were arranged as split-split plot design with the cover crop, strip till and conventional till as main plots, with cotton-cotton and cotton-sorghum rotations as sub plots in each tillage. Four levels of herbicide programs represented sub-sub plots. Seed cotton and grain sorghum yields, cotton fiber quality characteristics, and net revenue over two years were combined with relevant cost differences to compare net returns in partial budget context. Based on the data in hand, there was a significant three way interaction between tillage, location and year for yield. In 2019, cover crop produced statistically significant seed cotton yield increases at College Station (CS) (cotton-cotton: 1093-4335 kg/ha; cotton-sorghum: 986-5673 kg/ha) and Thrall (cotton-cotton: 959-1736 kg/ha; cotton-sorghum: 991-1816 kg/ha). In 2020, conventional tillage produced statistically significant yield increases in both continuous cotton (11-2480 kg/ha at CS; up to 1068 kg/ha at Thrall) and cotton-sorghum rotation (732-964 kg/ha at CS; 1815-1950 kg/ha at Thrall). In 2020, tillage also influenced the maturity of cotton at CS with conventional tillage maturing earliest at 140 DAP, strip and cover crop maturing latest at 158 DAP. Net returns incorporating fiber characteristics and cost differences will be included to compare treatments from a partial budgeting and risk efficiency standpoint.