Changes in Soil Moisture with Cover Crops and Tillage: Impact On Cotton Yield and Quality.

The alluvial soils of the lower Mississippi River flood plain are highly productive, but low in organic matter. Use of irrigation in the area has increased in order to ensure adequate yield return. Use of cover crops has been used in other areas to increase soil organic matter and improve infiltration and stored water in the soil. We compared changes in soil water content for predominant soil types of the region with and without cover crops. During the winter, the entire soil profile in replenished with water. Cover crops act to decrease soil surface drying, and can hinder planting due to high moisture content in the seed bed during wet springs. During drier years, the cover crops improve the seed bed by retaining moisture. The highly variable weather patterns of the region make implementation and management of cover crops and water management challenging. Cotton yield and quality responded more to weather during the growing season than particular tillage or cover crop management.