Increasing Farm Sustainability through the Use of Cover Crops for Weed Suppression in Non-Transgenic Conventional Cotton

Increasing Farm Sustainability through the Use of Cover Crops for Weed Suppression in Non-Transgenic Conventional Cotton

Objectives/Performance Targets

(Objectives) To demonstrate if a Black Oats cover crops can be used and how effective the cover is in suppressing weed pressure in a conservation tillage system. (Performance Targets)A Black Oat cover crop were planted in November and allowed to grow during the fallow season for cotton. The cover crop will be measured at various times during the cover crop growing period to monitor growth of cover. At he recommended set-back period, the cover crop will be killed in preparation for the planting of the cotton crop. During the reporting period the cover crop was planted and has been growing and being monitored. During the cold snap in Pulaski County in late January caused some of the plants to dieback and other were stunted. With the increasing temperatures, it is expected that the growth rate of the cover crop will increase prior to killing the cover for planting of the cotton.

Accomplishments/Milestones

The cover crops were planted in November with some killing and stunting during the cold weather in late January. The growth rate has increased with the warming temperatures. Plans are to kill the cover crop as required to allow for planting of the cotton crop.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Upto this point the following has been completed on the project. There has been three presentations at professional meeting explaining the project and the objectives of the project and the hopeful outcomes of the project. The cover crop has been planted and monitored by the Pulaski County Extension Agent. The project was also involved in sponsoring the Sustainable Agriculture and Conservation Tillage Conference held in Perry, Georgia February 15-17, 2005.

Collaborators: