Physiological Responses to Tillage Systems, Cover Crops, and Residue Management

  • C.O. Gwathmey
  • J.F. Bradley
  • A.Y. Chambers
  • D.D. Howard
  • D.D. Tyler
Chapter

Abstract

Tillage refers to mechanical manipulation of the soil, and a tillage system refers to a specific set of operations that manipulate the soil to produce a crop. Tillage operations modify the edaphic environment of cotton and may thus affect physiological determinants of yield. Winter annual cover crops and management of their residue may also affect the growth, development, and yields of subsequent cotton crops.

Different tillage and cover crop systems have evolved in various parts of the U.S. cotton belt and around the world in response to local soil and environmental conditions. These systems may have short- or long-term effects on the edaphic environment. Short-term effects mainly affect the same season’s crop, whereas long-term effects may take several years of repeated tillage (or no-tillage) operations to become apparent. For instance, soil temperature, moisture content, or aeration may be rapidly modified by tillage. Soil organic matter, erosion, or bulk density may gradually change over several years of a continuous tillage system.

Keywords

Cover Crop Conventional Tillage Root Length Density Silt Loam Tillage System 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  • C.O. Gwathmey
    • 1
  • J.F. Bradley
    • 2
  • A.Y. Chambers
    • 3
  • D.D. Howard
    • 1
  • D.D. Tyler
    • 1
  1. 1.Dept. of Plant and Soil ScienceUniv. of TennesseeJacksonUSA
  2. 2.Milan Experiment Station, Univ. of TennesseeMilanItaly
  3. 3.Dept. of Entomology and Plant PathologyUniv. of TennesseeJacksonUSA

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