01.04.08 - Enhance Both Crops in a Cotton ⁄ Corn Rotation
Tommy Swindoll, Hernando, MS "It was the best corn we had"
Crop rotations are working so well in parts of the United States that many growers no longer even consider putting the same crop on the same field two years in a row… except for cotton growers, that is. Some farmers have planted cotton on the same fields for decades without a single rotational crop in between. Until recently, there has been little scientific evidence supporting the insertion of other crops, such as corn, into a rotation with cotton. However, thanks to the introduction of new technology integrated corn varieties tailored for the south, that thinking is changing rapidly.
Today, modern corn varieties planted on the right soil types and managed properly in rotation with cotton are creating a synergy that eclipses the results of monoculture cropping. We are now able to match the right varieties to the right soils and produce much higher corn yields. The result is scores of cotton farmers joining the ranks of "corn cotton rotators." "Even though yield is the main factor growers look for in crop rotations," says Terry Dulaney, President of AgVenture Seed in Clarksdale, Mississippi, "there are many other reasons why cotton growers need to rotate with corn. In the last couple of years, AgVenture has shown more and more cotton farmers how to improve their cotton programs by inserting corn into their rotations, but they have also done a lot more. They have helped their customers see the even greater, but less visible benefits of rotating cotton acres. Improvements in soil structure, fertility, combating weed problems, reducing soil erosion, discouraging the build-up of pests, and decreasing reliance on agricultural chemicals are just some of the major benefits from alternating crops. "All of those benefits add up to more yield AND more profits to our customers," comments Terry.
According to Terry and his staff, the real secret that few farmers know is you cannot have a successful crop rotation program of any kind unless both crops in rotation perform to their maximum potential. For example, if a field traditionally planted with cotton is rotated with corn and produces only an average yield, there will be fewer positive effects on the cotton crop that follows, and the reason are pretty simple.
"When a corn variety has the opportunity to yield to its potential, each corn plant in that field produces a large root system that churns up the soil and changes its structure throughout the life of that crop. Very high yielding cornfields are full of healthy plants that fully activate soil organisms. "It’s almost as if a field wakes up" says Terry. The following year’s cotton crop will greatly benefit from this crop management tool. "We can’t fully emphasize the value of corn in a rotation with cotton," says Terry Dulaney.
There are many reasons why farmers should be making corn a permanent part of their rotation program. The price of corn is high and most expect it to going even go higher. "This is a huge opportunity," says Terry, "to take advantage of a great market while correcting problems in the field. Cotton producers have a great opportunity to introduce a profitable management tool while not sacrificing profits.