Impacts of cattle on cotton in a bahiagrass/peanut/cotton rotation D.L. Wright, J.J. Marois, D. Zhao, C. Mackowiak IFAS-NFREC, University of Florida Quincy, FL

Perennial grass/livestock row crop farming system Perennial grasses in rotation with row crops is the next step in improving soil health, OM, yield, water quality, farm economics, and reducing risk, and will make more difference to farm economics, biological enhancement and environmental health than converting from conventional to conservation tillage or other new technology being used Diversified conservation farming system utilizing cover crops Utilizes the land base year round Cattle have a significant positive impact on the farm economy by utilizing perennial grasses/cover crops and crop residue Little is know about cattle impacts on a total farm system when used in rotation with perennial grass and winter grazing This research investigates the impacts of cattle traffic on the following cotton crop

Tri-state project Replicated small trials with and without irrigation. Management is taken from here to the large plots.

Data Collected from Rotation Studies Nitrogen uptake Water infiltration Soil moisture Soil compaction Earthworm populations Plant growth measurements (root, LAI, etc.) Crop yield and quality Bulk density Soil nitrate Organic matter content Disease Economics of system Cattle impact on soil, etc.

Field Arrangement of Exclusion Cages and Crops in 2007 (135 irrigated acres) 4 5 6 7 9 8 10 12 11 50

2 year old bahia Peanut 1st year bahia Cotton The Rotation- September

Year round utilization of farm resources. After cotton After peanut Year round utilization of farm resources. (November-April best weather conditions exist) Dec. 2nd year bahia 1st year bahia

Peanut Caged area Aug. 2007

Going into 2nd year Bahiagrass Mini-rhizotron Going into 2nd year Bahiagrass June, 2007

Jan. 2007

Feb. 2007

Exclusion cages Mar. 2007

April, 2007

Killed 2 year old bahiagrass May, 2007

July, 2007

Grazing Effect on Soil Resistance (Measured on 2-23-2007) Resistance (kPa) Soil Depth (mm) Each data point is the mean of 30 measurements from 3 replications.

Soil Bulk Density in Cotton at Marianna-2007 Soil Bulk Density (g/mm3) Soil Depth (cm) High OM

Soil Moisture in Winter Grazing Prior to Planting Cotton at Marianna in 2007 Soil Depth (cm) High OM

Soil Moisture Profile during the Cotton Growing Season

Plant Height and Nodes

Leaf Chlorophyll and Petiole NO3-N

Lint Yield and Yield Components for Non-irrigated Cotton, 2007 Treat Lint yield (kg/ha) Boll size (g/boll) Bolls (no./m2) Turnout (%) Grazed 1651 a 4.50 a 84.9 a 43.3 b Un-grazed 1476 a 4.16 a 80.2 a 44.5 a Difference 175 0.34 4.9 -1.2

- Conclusions -Perennial grasses enhance soil quality, OM, soil moisture, etc. -Cattle compacted the top 10 cm of the soil surface more than the deeper depths -Soils with higher OM did not compact as readily as those with lower OM which perennial grasses aid in increasing -Soil moisture tends to be higher on areas that had been grazed -Soil moisture was higher in top 6 cm of soil and on high OM soils -Plant height and petiole nitrate N tend to be higher in grazed areas perhaps due to N cycling with cattle -The was no difference in cotton yield between grazed and ungrazed areas -Cattle grazing increases soil surface compaction but has no yield effect and cattle can make a significant contribution to the economy of the farm and year round utilization of the farm http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/sodrotation.htm

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