​​Implementing No-Till and Cover Crops in Texas Cotton Systems

November 2019 | 39 min., 56 sec.
by Paul DeLaune
Texas A&M AgriLife Research

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Summary

​Soil health has garnered much attention over the past few years, bringing topics such as no-till, cover crops, regenerative agriculture, and soil biology among others to the forefront. Implementation of conservation practices has typically lagged in cotton compared to other major crops in the US. Producers continue to have questions about whether conservation agriculture is a fit for their farming operations. This presentation will provide information to stakeholders who are considering adopting soil health promoting practices such as no-till and cover crops, particularly for producers in the western portion of the Cotton Belt. Practitioners will learn the impact of conservation tillage and cover crop options on cotton yield, economic returns, soil water storage, and soil health in dryland and irrigated cotton systems. By the end of this presentation, practitioners should know more about conservation tillage options, cover crop selection (single species vs. mixtures), cover crop seeding rates, and cover crop termination timing and potential agronomic and economic risks. 

About the Presenter

Paul DeLaunePaul DeLaune is an Associate Professor and Environmental Soil Scientist at Texas A&M AgriLife Research in Vernon, TX. He obtained his MS and PhD in Agronomy/Soil Science at the University of Arkansas and a BS in Agronomy from Oklahoma State University. Since joining Texas A&M AgriLife Research in 2007, Dr. DeLaune has focused on protecting water resources while maintaining agricultural p​roduction goals. Research topics include evaluating tillage and water management strategies in various cropping systems to improve nutrient and water use efficiencies, crop yields, soil health, and subsequent groundwater and surface water quality. Additionally, he has focused on the impact and adaptability of various cool-season and warm-season cover crop monospecies and mixtures on stored soil moisture and nutrient cycling in semi-arid cropping systems. He enjoys working directly with producers to learn of current issues firsthand and develop applied research programs to meet critical needs.​

Contact Information:
Email: pbdelaune@ag.tamu.edu

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