Evaluating Reduced Tillage, Cover Crops, and Living Mulches for Weed Management in Cotton

Abstract

Texas is the largest organic cotton producer in the US, but tillage is the primary weed control. Little research has been done on reducing tillage and cover crops in organic cotton. A living mulch is a cover crop planted with the main crop. There has been research on living mulches in corn and soybeans, but little in cotton. Studies in 2020 and 2021 had objectives (1) developing an organic cotton production system comparing two tillage regimes (minimum tillage-MT, conventional tillage-CT) and four cover crop treatments (Austrian winter pea, Bob oat, purpletop turnip, and a mix); and (2) assessing living mulch species for weed suppression and impact on cotton yield. MT plots had low lint yield in 2020. CT: Winter pea, turnip, and oat in 2020 and turnip, oat, and mix in 2021 performed best. Top living mulch species: cowpea (Mississippi Silver), soybean, and peanut (GA-09B).