Effects of Strip Tillage and Deficit Irrigation on Plant Available Water, Root Growth, and Crop Yield of Cotton In Fine Sandy Loam of South Texas.

Water conservation in South Texas is crucial for preserving the region’s ecological and economic resources. Improving our understanding of the relationship between crop physiology and soil physical properties is critical to maintaining these agricultural systems, particularly in areas supported by the Edwards Aquifer, as is the Texas AgriLife Research Center in Uvalde, TX, USA (29°13’03”, 99°45’26”, 283 m). The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of strip tillage and deficit irrigation on plant available water, root growth, and crop yield. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) was planted on approximately 4.38 hectares and irrigated with a Low Energy Precision Application center pivot system. Two tillage treatments were implemented – strip till and conventional till, along with three irrigation regimes, consisting of full irrigation, 100% ETc; deficit irrigation, 70% ETc; and primed acclimation, which involved subjecting the crop to 70% ETc from the time of planting until flowering and then providing 100% ETc for the duration of the growing season. A neutron probe was used to record soil moisture (CPN International Inc.), and a minirhizotron camera was used to quantify root development over the course of the season (Regent Instruments). Preliminary results indicate the highest yield from the Primed Acclimation treatment, followed by the 100% treatment. Additionally, plant available water was greatest in the strip tilled plots. Root growth data are pending.